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UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEGO 
Donated  in  memory  of 

John  W.    Snvder 

by 

His  Son  and  Daughter 


59/2 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEGO 


J  • 


New  York 

H.  M.  Caldwell  Co 

Publishers 


TO 

E.  B.  H. 

THIS   LITTLE  BOOK 
IS   MOST   LOVINGLY  DEDICATED. 

EDITED    BY 
CHARLOTTE   M.    YONGE. 


<P  RE  FACE. 


This  little  book  is  a  translation  from  a  col- 
lection of  devotional  thoughts  published  in  France 
under  the  title  of  "Paillettes  d'Or."  It  is  neces- 
sarily a  selection,  since  the  gold  dust  which  suits 
French  readers  requires  a  fresh  sifting  for  the 
English  ;  but  the  value  of  most  of  the  thoughts 
seems  to  me  well  to  deserve  the  term  of  gold. 
There  are  many  who  will  much  enjoy  having 


4 

this  little  collection  on  their  table,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  take  up  and  dwell  upon  some  one  of  its  grains 
at  leisure  times  throughout  the  day's  business. 

C.  M.   YONGE. 
Feb.  1 2th,  1880, 


IN  TROD  UCTION. 


IN  the  South  of  France,  during  the  summer, 
little  children  and  old  and  infirm  poor,  who 
are  incapable  of  hard  work,  in  order  to  earn 
a  livelihood,  employ  themselves  in  searching  the 
beds  of  dried-up  rivers  for  "  Paillettes  d'Or,"  or 
golden  dust,  which  sparkles  in  the  sun,  and 
which  the  water  carries  away  as  it  flows.  What 
is  done  by  these  poor  people  and  little  children 
for  the  gold  dust  GOD  has  sown  in  those  obscure 
rivers  we  would  do  with  those  counsels  and 
teachings  which  GOD  has  sown  almost  every- 
where, which  sparkle,  enlighten,  and  inspire  for  a 
moment,  then  disappear,  leaving  but  regret  that 
the  thought  did  not  occur  to  collect  and  treasure 
them. 


Who  is  there  that  has  not  experienced  at  some 
time  in  his  life  those  teachings  so  soft  and  gentle, 
yet  so  forcible,  which  make  the  heart  thrill,  and 
reveal  to  it  suddenly  a  world  of  peace,  joy,  and 
devotion  ? 

It  may  have  been  but  a  word  read  in  a  book,  or 
a  sentence  overheard  in  conversation,  which  may 
have  had  for  us  a  twofold  meaning,  and,  in  pass- 
ing, left  us  touched  with  an  unknown  power. 

It  was  the  smile  on  the  lips  of  a  beloved  one 
whom  we  knew  to  be  sorrowful,  that  spoke  to  us 
of  the  sweet  joy  of  resignation. 

It  was  the  open  look  of  an  innocent  child  that 
revealed  to  us  all  the  beauty  of  frankness  and  sim- 
plicity. 

Oh !  if  we  had  but  treasured  all  the  rays  of 
light  that  cross  our  path,  and  sparkle  but  for  a 
moment ;  oh  !  if  we  had  but  engraved  them  on 
our  hearts !  what  a  guide  and  comfort  they 
would  have  been  to  us  in  the  days  of  discourage- 
ment and  sorrow;  what  counsels  to  guide  our 
actions,  what  consolations  to  soothe  the  broken 
heart ! 

How  many  new  means  of  doing  good  ! 

It  is  this  simple  work  of  gathering  a  little  from 
every  source — from  nature,  from  books,  above  all 


from  mankind  itself— that  is  the  intention  of  one 
of  your  fellow-creatures,  dear  souls,  you  who  long 
so  to  make  your  lives  more  holy  and  devout ! 

And  in  the  same  way  as  the  gold  dust,  gathered 
and  accumulated  from  the  river's  bed,  was  the 
means  of  bringing  a  little  profit  to  the  hearth,  so 
would  we  endeavor  to  carry  a  little  joy  to  your 
hearts  and  peace  to  your  souls. 

Gather  then  these  little  counsels  :  gather  them 
with  watchfulness :  let  them  for  a  moment  pene- 
trate deep  into  your  heart ;  then  scatter  them 
abroad  again,  that  they  may  go  with  their  good 
words  to  the  help  of  others. 

They  will  not  be  importunate,  will  not  even  ask 
to  be  preserved ;  they  do  not  desire  fame ;  all  that 
they  seek  is  to  convey  a  transient  blessing. 


I. 

MY    LORD!"    exclaimed   once  a  devout 
soul,     "  give   me   every   day   a  little 
work  to  occupy  my  mind  ;  a  little  suf- 
fering to  sanctify  my  spirit ;  a  little  good  to  do 
to  comfort  my  heart." 

II. 

IF  by  our  deeds  we  become  saints,  true  it  is 
that  by  our  deeds  also  we  shall  be  con- 
demned. 

Yes,  it  is  little  by  little  that  we  press  onward, 
either  towards  salvation  or  eternal  ruin ;  and 
when  at  last  we  reach  the  gate  of  glory,  or  that  of 
perdition,  the  cry  escapes  our  lips,  "  Already !" 
The  first  backward  step  is  almost  impercep- 
tible ;  it  was  those  tiny  flakes  of  snow,  seeming  to 
melt  as  they  touch  the  earth,  but  falling  one 


pttfit,  9 

upon  another,   that  have  formed  that   immense 
mass  which  seems  ready  to  fall  and  crush  us. 

Ah  !  if  I  tried  to  trace  back,  to  what  first  led  to 
that  act  of  sin ;  the  thought  that  produced  the 
desire ;  the  circumstance  that  gave  rise  to  the 
thought,  I  should  find  something  almost  imper- 
ceptible ;  perhaps  a  word  with  a  double  entendre  I 
had  heard,  and  at  which  I  had  smiled,  a  useless 
explanation,  sought  out  of  mere  curiosity  ;  a  hasty 
look,  cast  I  knew  not  wherefore,  and  which  con- 
science prompted  me  to  check ;  a  prayer  neg- 
lected, because  it  wearied  me  ;  work  left  undone, 
while  I  indulged  in  some  day-dream,  that  flitted 
before  my  fancy.  .  .  . 

A  week  later,  the  same  things  occur,  but  this 
time  more  prolonged;  the  stifled  voice  of  con- 
science is  hushed. 

Yet  another  week.  .  .  .  Alas  !  let  us  stop 
there;  each  can  complete  the  sad  story  for  him- 
self, and  it  is  easy  to  draw  the  practical  conclu- 
sion. 

III. 

A  YOUNG    girl,  in   one  of  those   moments 
when  the  heart  seems   to  overflow  with 
devotion,  wrote  thus  in  her  journal : — "  If 
I  dared,  I  would  ask  GOD  why  I  am  placed  in 


10  <$XXUr  gilt  St. 

the  world  ;  what  have  I  to  do  ?  I  know  not ;  my 
days  are  idly  spent,  and  I  do  not  even  regret 
them.  ...  If  I  might  but  do  some  good  to  my- 
self, or  another,  if  only  for  the  short  space  of  a 
minute  in  each  day  !"  A  few  days  later,  when  in 
a  calmer  mood  she  re-read  these  lines,  she 
added,  "  Why,  nothing  is  easier  !  I  have  but  to 
give  a  cup  of  cold  water  to  one  of  CHRIST'S  little 
ones." 

Yes,  even  so  small  a  gift  as  that,  but  given  in 
GOD'S  Name,  may  be  of  service,  and  gives  you 
the  right  to  hope  for  a  reward  in  heaven. 

Even  less  than  that :  a  word  of  advice  ;  some- 
thing lent  to  another ;  a  little  vexation  patiently 
borne  ;  a  prayer  for  a  friend,  offered  to  GOD  ;  the 
fault  or  thoughtlessness  of  another  repaired  with- 
out his  knowledge  ;  GOD  will  recompense  it  all  a 
thousand-fold  ! 

IV. 

ALMS  given  in  secret ;  that  is  the  charity 
which  brings  a  blessing.     What  sweet  en- 
joyment, to  be  able  to  shed  a  little  happi- 
ness around  us  ! 

What  an  easy  and  agreeable  task  is  that  of 
trying  to  render  others  happy. 


FATHER  !  if  I  try  to  please  and  imitate  Thee 
thus,  wilt  Thou  indeed  bless  me  ?  Thanks ! 
thanks !  be  unto  Thee. 

V. 

IS  it  fair,  always  to  forget  all  the  good,  or  kind- 
ness, shown  to  us,  by  those  with  whom  we 
live,  for  the  sake  of  one  little  pain  they  may 
have  caused  us,  and  which,  most  likely,  was  quite 
unintentional  on  their  part  ? 

VI. 

WHEN  you  sometimes  find  in  books,  advice 
or  example,  that  you  think  may  be  of 
service,  you  take   care   to  copy,   and 
consult  it  as  an  oracle.    Do  as  much  for  the  good 
of  your  soul.     Engrave  in  your  memory,  and  even 
write  down,  the  counsels  and  precepts  that  you 
hear,  or  read ....  then,  from  time  to  time,  study 
this  little  collection,  which  you  will  not  prize  the 
less  that  you  have  made  it  all  yourself. 

Books  written  by  others  in  time  become  weari- 
some to  us,  but  of  those  we  write  ourselves  we 
never  tire.  And  it  will  be  yours,  this  collection 
of  thoughts  chosen  because  you  like  them  : 


counsels  you  have  given  yourself:  moral  receipts 
you  have  discovered,  and  of  which,  perhaps,  you 
have  proved  the  efficacy. 

Happy  soul !   that  each  day  reaps  its  harvest. 

VII. 

DO  you  wish  to  live  at  peace  with  all  the  world  ? 
Then  practise  the  maxims   of  an   influ- 
ential man,  who  when  asked,    after  the 
Revolution,  how  he  managed  to  escape  the  exe- 
cutioner's axe,  replied,    "  I  made   myself  of  no 

*•";"    a««ti«nj     «MM»     *Mua 

I£EutJi!il£n>Ji££'  kept  silence." 

Would  you  live  peaceably  with  the  members  of 
your  family,  above  all  with  those  who  exercise  a 
certain  control  of  you  ?  Use  the  means  employed 
by  a  pious  woman,  who  had  to  live  with  one  of  a 
trying  temper,  and  which  she  summed  up  hi  the 
following  words :  — 

"  I  do  everything  to  please  her; 

"  I  fulfil  all  my  duties  with  a  smiling  face,  never 
revealing  the  trouble  it  causes  me  ; 

"  I  bear  patiently  everything  that  displeases  me ; 

"  I  consult  her  on  many  subjects  of  which,  per- 
haps, I  may  be  the  better  judge." 

Would  you  be  at  peace  with  your  conscience  ? 


13 

Let  your  Guardian  Angel  find  you  at  each  moment 
of  the  day  doing  one  of  these  four  things  which 
once  formed  the  rule  of  a  saintly  life: — (i.)  praying; 
( 1 1.)  labouring  ;  ( in.)  striving  after  holiness;  (iv. ) 
practising  patience. 

Would  you  become  holy  ?  try  to  add  to  the 
above  actions  the  following  virtues  ; — method — 
faith — spiritual  combat — perseverance. 

Finally,  if  you  would  live  in  an  atmosphere  of 
benevolence,  make  it  your  study  to  be  always 
rendering  others  service,  and  never  hesitate  to  ask 
the  same  of  them. 

In  offering  help,  you  make  a  step  towards 
gaining  a  friend  ;  in  asking  it,  you  please  by 
this  mark  of  your  confidence.  The  result  of  this 
will  be  a  constant  habit  of  mutual  forbearance,  and 
a  fear  to  be  disobliging  in  matters  of  greater  im- 
portance. 

VIII. 

WHEN  teaching  or  working  with  others, 
never  laugh  or  make  fun  of  their  awk- 
wardness.    If  it  is  caused  by  stupidity, 
your  laughter  is  uncharitable  :  if  from  ignorance, 
your  mockery  is,  to  say  the  least,  unjust. 

Teach  the  unskilful  with  gentleness  ;  show  him 


14 

the  right  way  to  work:  and  GOD,  Who  sees  all 
your  efforts,  will  smile  on  your  patience,  and  send 
you  help  in  all  your  difficulties. 

IX. 

WHEN  the  heart  is  heavy,  and  we  suffer 
from    depression    or    disappointment, 
how  thankful  we  should  be  t   at  we  still 
have  work  and  prayer  left  to  comfort  us.     Occu- 
pation forcibly  diverts  the  mind ;  prayer  sweetly 
soothes  the  soul. 

"  Then,"  writes  one  who  had  been  sorely  tried, 
"  I  tell  my  griefs  to  GOD,  as  a  child  tells  its 
troubles  to  its  mother ;  and  when  I  have  told  all  I 
am  comforted,  and  repeat  with  a  lightened  heart, 
the  prayer  of  S.  Francoise  de  Chantal,  (  who 
certainly  suffered  more  than  I,)  '  Thy  will  be  done 
for  ever  and  ever,  O  LORD,  without  if  or  but,'. .  .  . 
and  then  for  fear  a  murmur  may  arise  in  my  heart, 
I  return  immediately  to  my  work,  and  become 
absorbed  in  occupation." 


H 


X. 

E  who  is   never  satisfied  with    anything, 
satisfies  no  one. 


15 

XI. 

ARE  there  many  who  try  to  be  of  some  little 
help  or  comfort  to  the  souls  with  whom 
they  are  brought  in  contact  through  life  ? 

Poor  souls,  that,  perhaps  have  nolonger  strength 
or  will  to  manifest  the  longing  they  experience, 
and  who  languish  for  want  of  help,  without  being 
aware  tlj  £.they  are  perishing.  O,  mingle  some- 
times with  your  earthly  help  the  blessed  Name 
of  GOD  ;  and  if  there  remain  one  little  spark  of  life 
in  the  soul,  that  Name  will  re-kindle  it,  and  carry 
comfort  and  resignation  ;  even  as  air  breathed  into 
the  mouth  of  any  one  apparently  dead,  rushes  into 
the  lungs,  and  revives  the  sufferer,  if  but  one 
breath  of  life  remains. 

Souls  !  Souls  !  I  yearn  for  Souls  ! — This  is 
the  cry  of  the  SAVIOUR  ;  and  for  their  sakes  He 
died  upon  the  Cross,  and  remains  until  eternity 
their  Intercessor. 

Souls  !  Souls  !  I  must  win  Souls  ! — It  is  the 
cry  of  Satan  ;  and  to  obtain  them  he  scatters  gold 
to  tempt  them,  multiplies  their  pleasures  and 
vanities,  and  gives  the  praise  that  only  infatuates. 

Souls  !  Souls  /  we  long  for  Souls  ! — Let  this 
be  our  aim,  readers  and  writers  of  these  our 
"  Paillettes;  "  and  for  the  sake  of  even  one  soul, 


i6 

let  not  fatigue,  expense,  or  the  criticism   of  the 
world  deter  us 

XII. 

HOW  few  there  are  who  would  thus  dare  to 
address  GOD  each  night : — "  LORD,  deal 
with  me  to-morrow  as  I  have  this  day  dealt 
with  others  .  .  .  those  to  whom  I  was  harsh,  and 
from  malice  or  to  show  my  own  superiority  ex- 
posed their  failings  ;  others  to  whom  from   pride 
or  dislike  I  refused  to  speak, — one  I  have  avoided 
— another  I    cannot  like   because   she   displeases 
me — I  will  not  forgive — to  whom  I  will  not  show 
any  kindness."  .... 

And  yet,  let  us  never  forget,  that  sooner  or 
later,  GOD  will  do  unto  us  even  as  we  have  done 
unto  them. 

XIII. 

"y^"~>RANT    me,    O    LORD,"  said  a  humble 
I       T     soul,     "that    I    may    pass    unnoticed 

through  the  world." 
This  should  be  the  wish,  or  rather  the  aim  of  all 

true  devotion. 

Small  virtues  require  the  praise  of  man  to  sus- 


17 

tain  them,  just  as  little  children  require  encourage- 
ment to  walk  or  stand  alone. 

But  true  virtue  goes  quietly  through  the  world, 
scattering  good  around,  and  performing  noble 
deeds,  without  even  the  knowledge  that  what  it 
does  is  heroic. 

XIV. 

CHANTAL,  one  day,  was  excusing  herself 
to  S.  Francois  de  Sales  for  having  spoken 
hastily  to  some  one,  on  the  plea  that  it 
was  in  the  cause  of  justice.  The  Saint  replied, 
"  You  have  been  more  just  than  righteous;  but 
we  should  be  more  righteous  than  just." 

XV. 

A   DEVOUT  woman  once  wrote  thus  :   "  In 
my  own  family,  I  try  to  be  as   little   in 
the  way  as  possible,  satisfied  with  every- 
thing, and  never  to  believe  for  a  moment  that  any 
one  means  unkindly  towards  me. " 

"  If  people  are  friendly  and  kind  to  me,  I  enjoy 
it ;  if  they  neglect  me,  or  leave  me,  I  am  always 
happy  alone.     It  all  tends  to  my  one  aim,  forget- 
fulness  of  self,  in  order  to  please  GOD." 
2 


XVI. 

LEARNING  is  not  without  its  effect  upon 
the  soul ;  it  either  lends  it  wings,  to  bear 
it  up  to  GOD,  or  leaves  behind  it  tiny  sparks, 
which,  little  by  little,  consume  the  whole  being. 

If  you  would  ascertain  all  the  good,  or  ill,  you 
have  derived  from  all  those  hours  devoted  to  his- 
torians, poets,;  novelists,  or  philosophers,  put  to 
yourself  these  questions :  Since  acquiring  this 
knowledge,  am  I  wiser  ?  am  I  better  ?  am  I 
happier  ? 

Wiser  ? — that  is  to  say  more  self-controlled,  less 
the  slave  of  my  passions,  less  irritated  by  small 
vexations,  braver  in  bearing  misfortunes,  more 
careful  to  live  for  eternity? 

Better? — More  forbearing  towards  others,  more 
forgiving,  less  uncharitable,  more  reticent  in  ex- 
posing the  faults  of  others,  more  solicitous  for  the 
happiness  of  those  around  me  ? 

Happier? — That  would  mean  more  contented 
with  my  station  in  life,  striving  to  derive  all  pos- 
sible benefits  from  it,  to  beautify  rather  than  to 
alter  it? 

Have  I  more  faith  in  GOD,  and  more  calmness 
and  resignation  in  all  the  events  of  life  ? 


19 

If  you  cannot  reply  in  the  affirmative,  then  ex- 
amine your  heart  thoroughly,  and  you  will  find 
there,  stifling  the  good  that  GOD  has  implanted, 
these  three  tyrants  that  have  obtained  dominion 
over  you: — (i.)  Pride,  (u.)  Ambition,  (in.) 
Self-Conceit. 

From  them  have  sprung: — dissatisfaction  and 
contempt  of  your  life  and  its  surroundings,  rest- 
lessness, a  longing  for  power  and  dominion  over 
others,  malice,  habitual  discontent,  and  incessant 
murmurings.  Have  you  any  further  doubts  ?  then 
inquire  of  those  with  whom  you  live. 

Ah  !  if  this  be  indeed  the  sad  result,  then  what- 
ever may  be  your  age,  close,  oh  !  close  those  books, 
and  seek  once  more  those  two  elements  of 
happiness  you  ought  never  to  have  forsaken,  and 
which,  had  you  made  them  the  companions  of 
your  study,  would  have  kept  you  pure  and  good. 

I  refer  to  prayer  and  manual  labour. 

XVII. 

LISTEN  to  the  story  of  a  simple  shepherd, 
given  in  his  own  words  : — "I  forget  now 
who  it  was  that  once   said   to   me :  Jean 
Baptiste,  you  are  very  poor? — True. — If  you  fell 
ill,  your  wife  and  children  would  be  destitute  ? — 


True.     And  then  I  felt  anxious  and  uneasy   for 
the  rest  of  the  day. 

"  At  Evensong,  wiser  thoughts  came  to  me, 
and  I  said  to  myself:  Jean  Baptiste,  for  more 
than  thirty  years  you  have  lived  in  the  world  you 
have  never  possessed  anything,  yet  still  you  live 
on,  and  have  been  provided  each  day  with  nourish- 
ment, each  night  with  repose.  Of  trouble  GOD 
has  never  sent  you  more  than  your  share.  Of 
help,  the  means  have  never  failed  you.  To  whom 
do  you  owe  all  this  ?  To  GOD.  Jean  Baptiste, 
be  no  longer  ungrateful,  and  banish  those  anxious 
thoughts ;  for  what  could  ever  induce  you  to  think 
that  the  Hand  from  which  you  have  already  re- 
ceived so  much,  would  close  against  you  when  you 
grow  old,  and  have  greater  need  of  help  ?  I  fin- 
ished my  prayer,  and  felt  at  peace." 

XVIII. 

THE  work  of  the  Sower  is  given  to  each  of  us 
in  this  world,  and  we  fall  short  of  our  duty 
when    we    let    those  with  whom  we  are 
brought  in  contact  leave  us  without  having  given 
them  a  kind  thought,  or  pious  impression. 

Nothing  is  so  sad  as  the  cry,  "I  am  useless!  " 
happily  none  need  ever  be  so. 


21 

X  A  kind  word,  a  gentle  act,  a  modest  demean- 
our, a  loving  smile,  are  as  so  many  seeds  that  we 
can  scatter  every  moment  of  our  lives,  and  which 
will  always  spring  up  and  bear  fruit. 

Happy  are  those,  who  have  many  around  them 
....  they  are  rich  in  opportunities,  and  may 
sow  plenteously. 

XIX. 

FEW  positions  in  life  are  so  full  of  importuni- 
ties as  that  of  the  mother  of  a  family,  or 
mistress  of  a  house.  She  may  have  a  dozen 
interruptions  while  writing  one  letter  or  settling  an 
account.     What    holiness,    what    self-control    is 
needed  to  be  always  calm  and  unruffled  amid  these 
little  vexations,  and  never  to  manifest  the  slightest 
impatience ! 

Leaving  the  work  without  apparent  annoyance, 
replying  with  a  smile  upon  the  lips,  awaiting 
patiently  the  end  of  a  long  conversation,  and 
finally  returning  calmly  to  the  yet  unfinished  work, 
— all  this  is  the  sign  of  a  recollected  soul,  and  one 
that  waits  upon  GOD. 

Oh !  what  blessings  are  shed  around  them  by 
such  patient  souls .  .  .  but,  alas !  how  rarely  they 
are  to  be  met  with  ! 


22  ©oU*  IHtet. 

XX. 

THERE  are  times  in  one's  life  when  all  the 
world  seems  to  turn  against  us.  Our 
motives  are  misunderstood,  our  words  mis- 
construed, a  malicious  smile  or  an  unkind  word 
reveals  to  us  the  unfriendly  feelings  of  others. 
Our  advances  are  repulsed,  or  met  with  icy  cold- 
ness ;  a  dry  refusal  arrests  on  our  lips  the  offer  of 
help  .  .  . 

Oh !  how  hard  it  all  seems,  and  the  more  so,  that 
we  cannot  divine  the  cause. 

Courage,  patience,  poor  disconsolate  one !  GOD 
is  making  a  furrow  in  your  heart,  where  He  will 
surely  sow  His  grace. 

It  is  rare  when  injustice,  or  slights  patiently 
borne,  do  not  leave  the  heart  at  the  close  of  the 
day  filled  with  marvellous  joy  and  peace. 

It  is  the  seed  GOD  has  sown,  springing  up  and 
bearing  fruit. 

XXI. 

THAT  which  costs  little,    is  of  little  worth. 
This  thought  should  make  us  tremble.     In 
our  self-examination  we  may  experience  at 
times  a  certain  satisfaction  in  noticing  the  little 


23 

virtues  we  may  possess,  above  all,  those,  that  ren- 
der us  pleasing  in  the  eyes  of  others. 

For  instance,  we  may  like  to  pray  at  a  certain 
place,  with  certain  sentiments  ;  and  we  think  our- 
selves devout ;  we  are  gentle,  polite,  and  smiling 
towards  one  person  in  particular:  patient  with 
those  we  fear,  or  in  whose  good  opinion  we  would 
stand ;  we  are  devoted,  charitable,  generous,  be- 
cause the  heart  experiences  an  unspeakable  plea- 
sure in  spending  and  being  spent  for  others ;  we 
suffer  willingly  at  the  hands  of  some  one  we  love, 
and  then  say,  we  are  patient ;  we  are  silent  because 
we  have  no  inclination  to  speak ;  shunning  society, 
because  we  fail  to  shine  there,  and  then  fancy 
that  we  love  retirement. 

Take  these  virtues  that  give  you  such  self-satis- 
faction, one  by  one,  and  ask  yourself  at  what 
sacrifice,  labor,  or  cost,  above  all  with  what  care 
you  have  managed  to  acquire  them.  .  .  .  Alas ! 
you  will  find  that  all  the  patience,  affability,  gen- 
erosity, and  piety,  are  but  as  nought,  springing 
from  a  heart  puffed  up  with  pride.  It  costs  noth- 
ing, and  it  is  worthless. 

As  self-sacrifice,  says  De  Maistre,  is  the  basis  and 
essence  of  virtue,  so  those  virtues  are  the  most  meri- 
torious that  have  cost  the  greatest  effort  to  attain. 


24 

Do  not  look  with  so  much  pride  on  this  couec- 
tion  of  virtues,  but  rather  bring  yourself  to  ac- 
count for  your  faults.  Take  just  one,  the  first  that 
comes,  impatience,  sloth,  gossip,  uncharitable- 
ness,  sulkiness,  whatever  it  may  be,  and  attack  it 
bravely. 

It  will  take  at  least  a  month,  calculating  upon 
three  victories  every  day,  not  indeed  to  eradicate 
it — a  fault  is  not  so  short-lived — but  to  prevent  its 
attaining  dominion  over  you. 

That  one  subdued,  then  take  another.  It  is  the 
work  of  a  lifetime  ;  and  truly  to  our  faults  may  we 
apply  the  saying : — "  Quand  il  n'y  en  a  plus,  il  y 
en  a  encore." 

"  Happy  should  I  think  myself,"  said  S.  Fran- 
cis de  Sales,  "  if  I  could  rid  myself  of  my  imper- 
fections but  one  quarter  of  an  hour  previous  to  my 
death." 


XXII. 

Communion. 

JESUS. 

Y  Child,  it  is  not  wisdom  /  require  of 
thee,  it  sufficeth  if  thou  lovest  Me  well. 
Speak  to  Me  as  thou  wouldst  talk  to  thy 


M 


25 

mother  if  she   were   here,  pressing  thee   to   her 
heart. 

$ 

//#.$•/  thou  none,  for  whom  thou  wouldst  inter- 
cede ?  Tell  Me  the  names  of  thy  kindred  and  thy 
friends ;  and  at  the  mention  of  each  name,  add 
what  thou  wouldst  have  Me  do  for  them.  Ask 
much,  fervently ;  the  generous  hearts  that  forget 
themselves  for  others  are  very  dear  unto  Me. 

Tell  Me  of  the  poor  thou  wouldst  succour,  the 
sick  thou  hast  seen  suffering,  the  sinful  thou 
wouldst  reclaim,  the  estranged  thou  wouldst  re- 
ceive to  thy  heart  again. 

Pray  fervently  for  all  mankind. 

Remind  Me  of  My  promise  to  hear  all  prayers 
that  proceed  from  the  heart ;  and  the  prayer  of- 
fered for  one  who  loves  us,  and  is  dear  to  us,  is 
sure  to  be  heartfelt  and  fervent. 


Hast  thou  no  favours  to  ask  of  Me?  Give  Me,  if 
thou  wilt,  a  list  of  all  thy  desires,  all  the  wants  of 
thy  soul.  Tell  Me,  simply,  of  all  thy  pride, 
sensuality,  self-love,  sloth ;  and  ask  for  My  help 
in  thy  struggles  to  overcome  them. 

Poor  child !    be  not  abashed ;  many  that  had 


26 

the  same  faults  to  contend  against,  are  now  Saints 
in  heaven. 

They  cried  to  Me  for  help,  and  by  degrees  they 
conquered. 

Do  not  hesitate  to  ask  for  temporal  blessings, 
health,  intellect,  success.  —  I  can  bestow  it,  and 
never  fail  to  do  so,  where  it  tends  to  make  the 
soul  more  holy.  What  wouldst  thou  this  day,  My 
child.  ...  If  thou  didst  but  know  how  I  long  to 
bless  thee  !  .  .  .  . 


Hast  thou  no  interests  -which  occupy  thy  mind  ? 

Tell  Me  of  them  all.  ...  Of  thy  vocation. 
What  dost  thou  think  ?  What  dost  thou  desire  ? 
Wouldst  thou  give  pleasure  to  thy  mother,  thy 
family,  those  in  authority  over  thee,  what  wouldst 
thou  do  for  them  ? 

And  for  Me,  hast  thou  no  ardour  ?  Dost  thou 
not  desire  to  do  some  good  to  the  souls  of  those 
thou  lovest,  but  who  are  forgetful  of  Me? 

Tell  Me  of  one  in  whom  thou  hast  interest  ;  the 
motive  that  actuates  :  —  the  means  thou  wouldst 
employ. 

Lay  before  Me  thy  failures,  and  /will  teach  thee 
the  cause. 


ghtat.  27 

Whom  wouldst  thou  have  to  help  thee  ?  The 
hearts  of  all  are  in  My  keeping,  and  /  lead  them 
gently,  wheresoever  /  will.  Rest  assured,  all  who 
are  needful  to  thee,  /  will  place  around  thee. 

O  !  My  child,  tell  Me  of  all  thy  "weariness  :  who 
has  grieved  thee  ?  treated  thee  with  contempt  ? 
wounded  thy  self-love  ? 

Tell  Me  all,  and  thou  wilt  end  by  saying,  all  is 
forgiven,  all  forgotten ....  and  /,  surely  /  will 
bless  thee  !  .  .  . . 

Art  thou  fearful  of  the  future  ? — Is  there  in  thy 
heart  that  vague  dread,  that  thou  canst  not  define, 
but  which  nevertheless  torments  thee  ? 

Trust  in  My  Providence.  .  .  ./am  present  with 
thee,  /  know  all,  and  /  will  never  leave  thee,  nor 
forsake  thee. 

Are  there  around  thee,  those  seemingly  less 
devout  than  formerly;  whose  coldness  or  indiff- 
erence have  estranged  thee  from  them,  without 
real  cause  ?  . .  .  . 

Pray  for  them — I  can  draw  them  back  to  thee, 
if  they  are  necessary  to  the  sanctification  of  thy 
soul. 

What  are  the  joys,  of  which  thou  hast  to  tell 
Me? 

Let  Me  share  thy  pleasures  :  tell  Me  of  all  that 


28 

has  occurred  since  yesterday,  to  comfort  thee, 
please  thee,  to  give  thee  joy  ! 

That  fear  suddenly  dispelled — that  unexpected 
success — that  token  of  affection — the  trial  that 
proved  thee  stronger  than  thou  thoughtest .... 

My  child,  /  sent  it  all;  why  not  show  some 
gratitude,  and  simply  thank  thy  LORD  ? 

Gratitude  draws  down  a  blessing,  and  the  Great 
Benefactor  likes  His  children  to  remind  Him  of 
His  Goodness. 

Hast  thou  no  promises  to  make  to  Me  f — 7  can 
read  thy  heart — thou  knowest  it ;  thou  mayst 
deceive  man,  but  thou  canst  never  deceive  GOD. 
Be  sincere. 

Art  thou  resolved  to  avoid  all  occasions  of  sin  ? 
— to  renounce  that  which  tempts  thee — never 
again  to  open  the  book  that  excites  thine  imagi- 
nation ? — Not  to  bestow  thine  affection  on  one  who 
is  not  devout,  and  whose  presence  steals  the  peace 
from  thy  soul? 

Wilt  thou  go  now,  and  be  loving  and  forbearing 
towards  one  who  has  vexed  thee  ?  .  .  .  . 

Good,  My  child  ! ...  .Go,  then,  return  to  thy 
daily  toil ;  be  silent,  humble,  resigned,  charitable 
— then  return  to  Me  with  a  heart  yet  more  loving 
and  devoted,  and  /shall  have  for  thee  fresh  blessings. 


29 

XXIII. 

THERE  will  soon  be  none  left,"  said  S. 
Francis  de  Sales,  "who  will  love  poor 
sinners,  but  GOD  and  myself." 

Oil !  why  do  we  fail  in  love  towards  those  poor 
sinful  ones  !  Are  they  not  very  much  to  be  pitied  ? 

When  they  are  prosperous,  pray  for  them  ;  but 
when  misfortune  comes  ( and  trouble  weighs 
heavily  upon  the  wicked,)  death  depriving 
them  of  the  only  beings  they  did  not  hate — 
afflicting  them  with  a  loathsome  disease — deliver- 
ing them  up  to  scorn  and  misery — oh  !  then, 
when  all  this  comes  upon  them,  love  them  freely. 
It  is  by  affection  alone  that  we  can  reach  the  worst 
characters,  and  the  souls  that  are  steeped  in  sin  ! 

How  many  have  died  impenitent,  who  if  only 
some  one  had  cared  for  them,  and  shown  them 
love,  might  have  become  at  last  saints  in  heaven. 
Oh  !  the  sins  that  are  committed;  oh  !  the  souls 
we  suffer  to  wander  from  GOD,  and  all  because 
we  are  are  so  wanting  in  love  towards  them. 

XXIV. 

LET  us  always  be  on  our  guard  against  Pre- 
judice. 

Some  women  have  a  way  (of  which  they 


3° 

themselves  are  unconscious)  of  turning  the  cold 
shoulder,  to  some  one  member  of  their  family. 

For  what  reason  ?  they  cannot  say,  simply  be- 
cause the  cause  is  never  very  clearly  defined,  and 
in  this  lies  all  the  mischief. 

Perhaps  an  air  of  indifference,  they  may  have 
fancied,  and  which  arose  merely  from  fatigue,  or 
trouble  that  could  not  be  confided  to  them  : 

A  word  misinterpreted,  because  heard  at  a  time 
when  they  felt  discontented,  and  their  morbid 
imagination  made  everything  appear  in  a  false 
light: 

Some  scandal,  to  which  they  ought  never  to 
have  listened,  or  at  least,  should  have  endeavored 
to  fathom,  going  direct  to  the  person  concerned 
and  seeking  an  explanation.  — 

And,  behold  the  result ;  they  in  their  turn  be- 
come cold,  reserved  and  suspicious,  misinterpre- 
ting the  slightest  gesture.  .  .  .in  a  few  days  arises  a 
coldness,  from  the  feeling  they  are  no  longer  be- 
loved ;  then  follow  contempt  and  mistrust ;  finally, 
a  hatred  that  gnaws,  and  rends  the  very  heart. 

It  all  springs  up  imperceptibly,  till  at  last  the 
family  life  is  one  of  bitterness  and  misery. 

They  console,  or  better  still,  excuse  themselves, 
with  the  thought  of  their  suffering,  never  con- 


31 

sidering  how  much  pain  they  give  to  others,   nor 
where  the  fault  lies. 


XXV. 

LET  it  rest !  Ah  !  how  many  hearts  on  the 
brink  of  anxiety  and  disquietude,  by  this 
simple  sentence,  have  been  made  calm  and 
happy  ! 

Some  proceeding  has  wounded  us,  by  its  want 
of  tact ;  let  it  rest,  no  one  will  think  of  it  again. 

A  harsh  or  unjust  sentence  irritates  us;  let  it 
restj  whoever  may  have  given  vent  to  it,  will  be 
pleased  to  see  it  is  forgotten. 

A  painful  scandal  is  about  to  estrange  us  from 
an  old  friend ;  let  it  rest,  and  thus  preserve  our 
charity  and  peace  of  mind. 

A  suspicious  look  is  on  the  point  of  cooling  our 
affection  ;  let  it  rest ;  and  our  look  of  trust  will 
restore  confidence.  .  .  . 

Farley !  we  who  are  so  careful  to  remove  the 
briars  from  our  pathway,  for  fear  they  should 
wound,  yet  take  pleasure  in  collecting  and  piercing 
our  hearts  with  the  thorns  that  meet  us  in  our 
daily  intercourse  with  one  another.  How  childish 
and  unreasonable  we  are  ! 


32  <$Mfr  I)  it  st. 

XXVI. 

OF  all  the  means  placed  by  Providence  with- 
in our  reach,  whereby  we  may  lead  souls 
to  Him,  there  is  one,  more  blessed  than 
all  others  —Intercessory  Prayer. 

* 

How  often,  in  the  presence  of  one  deeply  loved, 
but  alas!  estranged  from  GOD,  the  heart  of  mother 
or  wife  has  felt  a  sudden  impulse  to  say  an  earnest 
word,  propose  an  act  of  devotion,  to  paint  in 
glowing  colours  the  blessings  of  faith,  and  the 
happiness  of  virtue  ....  and  she  has  stopped, 
deterred  by  an  irresistible  fear  of  how  the  words 
may  be  received ;  and  she  says  to  herself,  poor 
woman :  "  To-morrow  I  shall  be  braver. " 

# 

Poor  mother  !  poor  wife  !  go  and  tell  to  your 
Heavenly  FATHER,  all  you  would,  but  dare  not 
say  to  the  loved  one  who  gives  you  so  much  pain. 

Lay  that  sin-sick  soul  before  the  LORD,  as  long 
ago  they  laid  the  paralytic  man  who  could  not,  or 
perhaps  would  not,  be  led  to  Him. 

Plead  for  him,  with  the  long-suffering  SAVIOUR, 
as  you  would  plead  with  an  earthly  master,  upon 


(Go  Ib  ihist.  33 


whom  depended  all  his  future  welfare,  and  say  to 
Him  simply  :  "  LORD,  have  patience  with  him 
yet  a  little  longer." 

Tell  GOD  of  all  your  anxiety,  your  discourage- 
ments, the  means  employed  for  success. 

Ask  Him  to  teach  you  what  to  say,  and  hov  to 
act.  One  sentence  learnt  of  GOD  in  prayer,  will 
do  more  for  the  conversion  of  a  soul,  than  all  our 
poor  human  endeavours.  That  sentence  will 
escape  our  lips  involuntarily.  We  may  not  re- 
member that  we  have  said  it,  but  it  will  sink  deep 
into  the  heart,  making  a  lasting  impression,  and 
silently  fulfilling  its  mission. 


You  are,  perhaps,  surprised,  after  many  years, 
to  see  such  poor  results.  Ah  !  how  little  can  you 
judge  !  .  .  .  . 

Do  you  know  what  you  have  gained  ?  In  the 
first  place,  time,  —  often  a  physical  impossibility 
to  sin,  which  you  may  attribute  to  chance,  but 
which  was,  in  reality,  the  work  of  Providence  ;  and 
is  it  nothing,  one  sin  the  less,  in  the  life  of  an  im- 
mortal soul?  ....  Then  a  vague  uneasiness, 
which  will  soon  allow  of  no  rest  —  a  confidence 
which  may  enable  you  to  sympathize  —  more 

3 


34  (OtoU*  glttet. 

liberty  left  you  for  the  exercise  of  religious  acts — 
you  no  longer  see  the  contemptuous  smile  at  your 
acts  of  devotion.  Is  all  this  nothing  ? 

Ah !  if  while  on  your  knees,  praying  for  the 
one  you  would  have  reconciled  to  GOD,  you  could 
bat  see  what  is  passing  in  his  soul ;  the  wrest- 
lings, the  remorse  he  strives  vainly  to  stifle  ;  if 
you  could  see  the  work  of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT  in  the 
heart,  gently,  but  firmly  triumphing  over  the  will, 
how  earnestly,  how  incessantly,  would  you  con- 
tinue to  pray ! 

Only  have  patience  to  wait — perseverance,  not 
to  grow  weary. 

It  is  the  want  of  patience,  that  often  makes  us 
exacting,  towards  those  we  desire  to  help. 

More  haste,  less  speed,  is  an  old  saying ;  the  more 
we  are  exacting,  the  less  likely  are  we  to  succeed. 

Men  like  to  act  freely,  and  to  have  the  credit  of 
their  actions. 

It  is  because  we  have  not  learnt  to  persevere, 
that  the  work  seems  never  to  progress. 

Courage  then  !  the  ground  may  seem  too  dry 
for  cultivation,  but  each  prayer  will  be  as  a  drop 
of  water ;  the  marble  may  be  very  hard,  but  each 
prayer  is  like  the  hammer's  stroke,  that  wears 
away  its  roughness. 


Ihtot.  35 


XXVII. 

THE  sweet  peace  of  GOD  bears  the  outward 
token  of  resignation. 

When  the  HOLY  SPIRIT  dwells  within  us 
everything  seems  bright. 

Everything  may  not  be  exactly  as  we  would 
wish  it,  but  we  accept  all,  with  a  good  grace.  .  .  . 
For  instance,  some  change,  in  our  household,  or 
mode  of  living,  upsets  us.  If  GOD  is  with  us,  He 
will  whisper:  "Yield  cheerfully  thy  will  —  in  a 
little  while  all  will  be  forgotten." 

Some  command  or  employment  wounds  our 
pride  ;  if  GOD  is  with  us,  He  will  say  to  us  :  "Be 
submissive,  and  /will  come  to  thine  aid.  " 

We  may  dislike  a  certain  neighborhood  ;  the 
society  there  may  be  repulsive  to  us,  and  we  are 
about  to  become  morbid  ;  GOD  will  tell  us  to  con- 
tinue gracious  and  smiling,  for  He  will  recom- 
pense the  little  annoyances  we  may  experience. 
If  you  would  discern  in  whom  GOD'S  Spirit 
dwells,  watch  that  person,  and  notice  whether 
you  ever  hear  him  murmur. 


36 


XXVIII. 

31  JBant  to  be 

HEAVENLY   FATHER,  aid  Thy  child,  who 
longs  to  become  holy  ! 
But  then  I  must  be  patient  under  humi- 
liation —  let    myself   be  forgotten,    and  be   even 
pleased  at  feeling  myself  set  aside. 

Never  mind  /  I  ant  resolved,  I  wish  to  be 
holy  ! 

But  I  must  never  excuse  myself,  never  be  im- 
patient, never  out  of  temper. 

Never  mind  /  I  am  resolved,  I  wish  to  be 
holy  ! 

Then  I  must  continually  be  doing  violence  to  my 
feelings  —  submitting  my  will  always  to  that  of  my 
superiors  —  never  contentious  —  never  sulky,  fin- 
ishing every  work  begun,  in  spite  of  dislike  or 
ennui. 

Never  mind  /  I  am  resolved,  I  wish  to  be 
holy  / 

But,  then,  I  must  be  always  charitable  towards 
all  around  me  ;  loving  them,  helping  them  to  the 
utmost  of  my  power,  although  it  may  cause  me 
trouble. 

Never  mind!    I  am  resolved,  I  wish  to  be  holy  ! 


<J50Ur  pxtst.  37 


But  I  must  constantly  strive  against  the  coward- 
ice, sloth,  and  pride  of  my  nature,  renouncing 
the  world,  the  vanity  that  pleases,  the  sensuality 
that  rejoices  me  ;  the  antipathy  that  makes  me 
avoid  those  I  do  not  like. 

Never  mind  /  I  am  resolved,  I  still  wish  to 
be  holy  ! 

Then,  I  shall  have  to  experience  long  hours  of 
weariness,  sadness,  and  discontent.  I  shall  often 
feel  lonely,  and  discouraged. 

Never  mind  !  I  am  resolved,  I  wish  to  be  holy! 
for  then  I  shall  have  Thee  always  with  me,  ever 
near  me.  LORD  !  help  me,  for  I  want  to  be  holy  ! 


to  Become 

Oh  !  it  is  quite  easy  !  if  I  fulfil  every  duty,  to 
the  best  of  my  ability;  and  many  who  had  no 
more  to  do  than  I,  have  become  Saints. 

One  day  is  the  same  as  another.  Prayer, 
worldly  business,  calls  to  be  devout,  charitable, 
and  faithful  :  these  are  the  duties  that  each  hour 
brings  in  its  turn  ;  and  if  I  am  faithful  in  their 
fulfilment,  GOD  will  be  always  ready  to  help  me, 
and  then  what  signifies  a  little  ennui,  pain,  or  mis- 
fortune ? 


3s 


of 

I  will  perform  them,  as  in  GOD'S  sight,  con- 
scious that  He  is  present,  and  smiling  on  my 
efforts. 

I  will  perform  each,  if  I  had  but  one  to  ac- 
complish, striving  to  render  it  as  perfect  as  pos- 
sible. 

I  will  fulfil  each  duty,  as  if  upon  that  one  alone 
depended  my  salvation. 


fur  &anctifpin0  jnap  action^. 

GOD  expects  me  to  honour  Him  by  that 
action. 

GOD  has  attached  a  special  blessing  to  that 
actior  ,  and  awaits  its  fulfilment  to  bestow  it. 

GOD  notes  each  action  :  and  of  them  all  here- 
after I  must  give  an  account. 

GOD  will  see  that  I  love  Him,  if  I  strive  to  ful- 
fil every  duty,  in  spite  of  weariness  and  trouble. 

I  honour  GOD  by  this  action,  and  I,  poor,  weak, 
sinful  child,  am  allowed  to  glorify  Him,  in  place 
of  those  who  blaspheme,  and  rebel  against  the 
Divine  will. 


39 
XXIX. 

^  I  "'HEY  say  there  is  nothing  which  communi- 
cates itself  so  quickly  amongst  the  mem" 
bers  of  a  family,  as  an  expression  of  cold- 
ness or  discontent  on  the  face  of  one  of  its  mem- 
bers.    It  is  like  the  frost  that  chills  us.     This  is 
not  altogether  true ;  there  is  something  which  is 
communicated  with   equal  rapidity,  and  greater 
force — I   mean   the    smiling  face,    the    beaming 
countenance,  the  happy  heart. 

XXX. 

•Jlittlc  IDomcs. 

THERE  is  not  a  day  in  our  lives,  that  we  are 
not  distressed  by  some  one  of  those  num- 
berless little  worries  that  meet  us  at  every 
step,  and  which  are  inevitable. 

The  wound  made  may  not  be  deep,  but  the  con- 
stant pricks  each  day  renewed,  embitter  the  char- 
acter, destroy  peace,  create  anxiety,  and  make  the 
family  life,  that  otherwise  would  be  so  sweet  and 
peaceful,  almost  unendurable. 

Life  is  full  of  these  little  miseries.  Each  hour 
brings  with  it  its  own  trouble. 

Here  are  some  of  the  little  worries  : — An   im- 


patient  word  escapes  our  lips,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  some  one  in  whose  estimation  we  would 
stand  well. 

A  servant  does  his  work  badly,  fidgets  us  by  his 
slowness,  irritates  us  by  his  thoughtlessness,  and 
his  awkward  blunders  make  us  blush. 

A  giddy  child  in  its  clumsiness  breaks  some- 
thing of  value,  or  that  we  treasure  on  account  of 
its  associations  :  we  are  charged  with  a  message  of 
importance,  and  our  forgetfulness  makes  us  appear 
uncourteous,  perhaps  ungrateful  :  some  one  we 
live  with  is  constantly  finding  fault,  nothing 
pleases  them.  If,  when  night  comes,  we  find  we 
have  not  experienced  these  little  worries,  then  we 
ought  to  be  grateful  to  GOD.  Each  of  these,  and 
many  more,  are  liable  to  befall  us  every  day  of 
our  life. 


to  SRrar  Xittfe 

In  the  first  place,  expect  them.  Make  them 
the  subject  of  our  morning  prayers,  and  say  to 
ourselves  :  Here  is  my  daily  cross,  do  I  accept 
willingly  ?  Surely  !  for  it  is  GOD  who  sends  it. 
After  all.  .  .  .  these  little  troubles,  looked  at 


ghtat.  41 

calmly,  what  are  they  ?  Ah  !  if  there  were  never 
any  worse  1 

Secondly,  we  must  be  prepared  for  them.  You 
know,  if  you  wish  to  break  the  force  of  a  blow 
falling  on  you,  you  naturally  bend  the  body  ;  so 
let  us  act  with  regard  to  our  souls. 

Accustom  yourself,  wrote  a  pious  author,  to 
stoop  with  sweet  condescension,  not  only  to  exi- 
gencies (that  is  your  duty)  but  to  the  simple  wish- 
es of  those  who  surround  you — the  accidents 
which  may  intervene  :  you  will  find  yourself  sel- 
dom, if  ever,  crushed. 

To  bend  is  better  than  to  bear ;  to  bear,  is  often 
a  little  hard  ;  to  bend,  implies  a  certain  internal 
sweetness,  that  yields  all  constraint,  sacrificing 
the  wishes,  even  in  holy  things,  when  they  tend 
to  cause  disagreements  in  the  family  circle. 

Submission  often  implies  an  entire  resignation, 
to  all  that  GOD  permits.  The  soul  that  endures, 
feels  the  weight  of  its  trouble.  The  soul  that 
yields  scarcely  perceives  it. 

Blest  are  those  docile  ones :  they  are  those 
whom  GOD  selects,  to  work  for  Him. 


42 

XXXI. 
(£0  <©btain  peace. 

APPROACH  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  O  rest- 
less soul  in  search  of  peace,  and  humbly 
kneeling  there,  pour  forth  bravely,  slowly, 
and  with  earnest  desire,  the  following  prayer  :  — 
O  JESUS,  gentle  and  humble  of  heart,  hear  me  ! 
From  the  desire  of  being  esteemed, 
From  the  desire  of  being  loved, 
From  the  desire  to  be  sought, 

Deliver  me,  JESUS. 
From  the  desire  to  be  mourned, 
From  the  desire  of  praise, 
From  the  desire  of  preference, 
From  the  desire  of  influence, 
From  the  desire  of  approval, 
From  the  desire  of  authority, 
From  the  fear  of  humiliation, 
From  the  fear  of  being  despised, 
From  the  fear  of  repulse, 
From  the  fear  of  calumny, 
From  the  fear  of  oblivion, 
From  the  fear  of  ridicule, 
From  the  fear  of  injury, 
From  the  fear  of  suspicion, 

Deliver  me,  JESUS. 


43 

That  others  may  be  loved  more  than  myself. 
JESUS  grant  this  desire. 

That  others  may  be  more  highly  esteemed. 

That  others  may  grow  and  increase  in  honour, 
and  I  decrease.  JESUS,  grant  me  to  desire  it. 

That  others  may  be  employed,  and  I  set  aside. 
JESUS,  grant  me  to  desire  this. 

That  others  may  attract  the  praise,  and  myself 
be  forgotten. 

That  others  may  be  preferred  in  all. 

Grant  me  the  utmost  holiness  of  which  I  am 
capable,  then  let  others  be  holier  than  myself. 
JESUS,  grant  me  to  desire  it ! 

Oh,  if  GOD  hearkens, — and  hearken  He  surely 
will,  if  your  prayer  has  been  sincere — what  joy  in 
your  heart,  what  peace  on  your  countenance,  what 
sweetness  will  pervade  your  whole  life  ! 

More  than  half  one's  troubles  arise  from  an  ex- 
aggerated idea  of  one's  own  importance,  and  the 
efforts  we  make  to  increase  our  position  in  the 
world. ^  Lacordaire  says  that  the  sweetest  thing  on 
earth,  is  to  be  forgotten  by  all,  with  the  exception 
of  those  who  love  us.  vV.ll  else  brings  more  trouble 
than  joy,  and  as  soon  as  we  have  completed  our 
task  here,  and  fulfilled  our  mission,  the  best  thing 
for  us  to  do,  is  to  disappear  altogether. 


44 

Let  us  each  cultivate  carefully  and  joyously  the 
portion  of  soil,  Providence  has  committed  to  our 
care.  Let  us  never  be  hindered,  or  distracted  by 
ambitious  thoughts,  that  we  could  do  better,  or  a 
false  zeal  tempting  us  to  forsake  our  daily  task 
with  the  vain  desire  to  surpass  our  neighbors.  .  .  . 
Let  this  one  thought  occupy  our  minds.  To  do 
•well  what  is  given  us  to  do,  for  this  is  ail  that  GOD 
requires  at  our  hands.  It  may  be  summed  up  in 
four  words  : — simply  —  zealously —  cheerfully  — 
completely. 


Then  if  we  are  slighted,  misunderstood,  ma- 
ligned, or  persecuted,  what  does  it  matter  ?  these 
injuries  will  pass  away ;  but  the  peace  and  love  of 
GOD  will  remain  with  us  for  ever,  the  reward  of 
our  faith  and  patience.  The  love  of  GOD  !  who 
can  describe  all  the  joy,  strength,  and  consolation 
it  reveals  ? 

Never  has  human  love,  in  its  brightest  dreams, 
been  able  to  form  any  idea  of  all  the  sweetness, 
the  love  of  GOD  imparts  to  the  soul,  and  which  is 
brought  still  nearer  to  us  in  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment. 

I  can   well  understand  the  words  of  a  loving 


45 

soul :   "  With  heaven   so  near,   and  daily  com- 
munion with  our  GOD,  how  can  we  ever  repine  I" 

XXXII. 

after  Rolp  Communion. 
OUR  FATHER  WHICH  ART  IN  HEAVEN. 

O  JESUS  !  it  is  Thou  who  biddest  me  say, 
FATHER!  My    Father/    oh    how    that 
Name  rejoices  my  heart !     My  Father/ 
I   can  no  longer  feel  alone,   and  whatever  may 
happen  to  me   this  day  I   feel   I   am   protected, 
comforted,  beloved. 

JESUS  1  let  me  dwell  on  the  sweetness  of  those 
words ;  My  Father !  I  need  not  lift  my  eyes  to 
heaven,  Thou  art  within  me,  and  where  Thou 
dwellest  heaven  must  be. 

Yes  !  heaven  is  within  me  !  heaven  with  all  its 
peace  and  love,  and  if  I  keep  free  from  guile  this 
day,  my  day  will  be  one  of  heavenly  joy,  and  in 
addition,  the  privilege  of  suffering  for  Thee. 

HALLOWED  BE  THY  NAME. 
To  hallow  Thy   Name,    O  LORD  !  is   to  pro- 
nounce it  with  reverence  and  awe. 

To-day  I  will  pray  more  fervently — try  to  real- 


4-6  ©Olfc  |pu»t. 

ize  Thy  Presence,  Thy  Goodness,  Thy  Love,  and 
my  heart  shall  be  a  sanctuary,  into  which  nothing 
shall  penetrate,  that  could  be  displeasing  unto 
Thee. 

To  hallow  Thy  Name — is  to  call  upon  it  fer- 
vently, to  have  it  constantly  upon  my  lips ;  above 
all  before  taking  an  important  step — when  there 
are  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  I  will  softly  whis- 
per the  Invocation,  which  is  the  secret  of  all  holy 
living!  " JESUS,  meek  and  humble  of  heart, 
have  pity  upon  me." 

THY  KINGDOM  COME. 

O  JESUS,  Thy  kingdom  is  within  my  heart, 
reign  there  in  all  Thy  sovereignty  and  power, 
reign  there  absolutely ! 

•  My  King  !  what  dost  Thou  require  of  me  to- 
day ?  Thy  commandments,  my  rule  of  life,  my 
daily  duties,  these  are  Thy  commands  that  I  will 
promise  to  obey — more  than  that,  I  will  regard 
all  in  authority  over  me,  as  Thine  Ambassadors, 
speaking  to  me  in  Thy  Name.  What  matters 
the  tone,  or  the  harshness  of  the  order  ? 

What  does  it  signify  if  some  unexpected  com- 
mand upsets  all  my  previous  plans  ?  It  is  Thy 


47 

Voice  I  hear,  Thou  LORD,  Whom  I  will  obey  al- 
ways, and  in  all  things. 

Thy  kingdom  is  also  in  the  hearts  of  others ; 
and  there  would  I  see  Thee  reigning.  Then  to 
whom  can  I  speak  of  Thee  this  day  ?  What 
counsels  can  I  give  ?  What  moments  may  I 
seize,  in  which  without  wounding  the  feelings  or 
parading  my  zeal,  I  may  be  allowed  to  speak  a 
few  words  of  piety  ?  LORD  !  let  me  have  the  op- 
portunity to  help  another  to  love  Thee  ! 

THY  WILL  BE  DONE  ON  EARTH,  AS  IT  is  IN 
HEAVEN. 

Yes !  yes  !  Thy  Will  be  done  !  Thy  sweet 
all-perfect  Will ! 

What  wilt  Thou  send  me  to-day  ? 

Humiliation  ?  Provocation  ?  Sufferings  ?  A 
fresh  rending  of  the  heart  ?  A  disappointment  ? 
Shall  I  see  myself  misjudged,  falsely  suspected, 
despised  ?  I  accept  beforehand,  all  that  Thou 
sendest  me,  and  if  through  weakness  I  weep, 
suffer  it  to  be  so — if  I  murmur,  check  me ;  if  I 
am  vexed,  correct  me ;  if  hopeless,  encourage 
me. 

Yes !  yes !  Let  Thy  sweet  and  holy  Will  be 
done  ! 


48 

Even,  O  LORD,  if  to  glorify  Thee,  I  must  be 
humiliated,  suffering,  useless  and  forsaken,  still, 
LORD,  stay  not  Thine  Hand,  I  am  wholly 
Thine. 

GIVE  us  THIS  DAY  OUR  DAILY  BREAD. 

How  blessed,  O  LORD,  to  depend  only  upon 
Thee.  .  .  .  behold  me,  Thy  child,  waiting  with 
outstretched  hand  to  receive  Thy  benefits. 

Grant  me  my  temporal  blessings;  clothing, 
nourishment,  shelter  ....  but  not  too  much  of 
anything  ;  and  let  me  have  the  happiness  of 
sharing  my  blessings,  with  those  poorer  than  my- 
self, to-day.  Grant  me  the  blessing  of  intelli- 
gence, that  I  may  read,  or  hear  one  of  those 
golden  counsels,  that  elevate  the  soul  and  lend 
wings  to  the  thoughts. 

Grant  me  the  loving  heart,  O  my  FATHER  ! 
that  I  may  feel  for  a  moment  how  I  love  Thee, 
and  Thy  love  towards  me ;  let  me  sacrifice  myself 
for  the  welfare  of  another.  Give  me  the  bread  of 
Life.  The  Holy  Eucharist !  I  have  just  received 
it,  Lord !  Grant  me  again  ere  long  that  great 
blessing. 

And  then,  give  all  these  blessings  to  those  I 
love,  and  who  love  me  1 


49 

FORGIVE  us  OUR  TRESPASSES,  AS  WE  FORGIVE 

THEM   THAT  TRESPASS  AGAINST   US. 

When  I  pronounce  the  word  of  pardon,  what  a 
weight  seems  lifted  from  my  heart ! 

I  will  not  only  banish  every  feeling  of  hatred,  I 
will  efface  every  painful  remembrance.  O  GOD, 
if  Thou  forgivest  me,  as  I  forgive  others,  what 
mercy  for  me ! 

Thou  seest  I  bear  no  malice,  that  I  forget  all 
injuries  .... 

I  have  been  offended  by  words;  I  forget  them  ; 
by  actions,  I  forget  them ;  by  omissions,  thoughts, 
desires,  they  are  all  forgotten. 

Ah !  in  all  these  ways  I  have  offended  Thee, 
and  Thou  wilt  forget,  even  as  I  have  forgotten. 

I  will  be  very  merciful,  so  that  Thou  mayst 
have  mercy  upon  me. 

LEAD  us  NOT  INTO  TEMPTATION,  BUT  DELIVER 

US   FROM   EVIL. 

Now,  as  I  leave  Thine  altar,  I  go  to  encounter 
temptation. 

O  SAVIOUR  !  help  me,  keep  me,  and  warn  me 
of  my  danger ! 

Let  me  shun   all  occasions  of  evil,   and  if  by 

4 


So  <8><?U>  gust. 

weakness,  or  allurements,  I  am  led  into  paths  of 
sin,  if  I  fall,  oh  !  rescue  me  speedily,  that  I  may 
fall  upon  my  knees,  confessing  my  sin,  and  im- 
ploring pardon. 

Sin  !  this  is  the  evil  from  which  I  beseech  Thee 
to  deliver  me  ;  other  troubles  that  may  happen, 
I  accept,  they  are  sent  to  try  me  and  to  purify, 
and  come  from  Thee  ;  but  sin,  I  have  no  pleasure 
in  it !  Oh  !  when  in  the  hour  of  temptation  I  fall 
away,  LORD  !  hearken  to  the  cry  that  I  now 
raise  to  Thee  in  all  sincerity  :  I  will  it  not ! — it  is 
not  wilful!  I  go  from  Thy  Presence  —  but, 
JESUS  !  Thou  art  with  me.  In  work,  in  prayer, 
in  suffering,  let  all  be  done  in  Thee  ! 


XXXIII. 

"  JV  yf  OTHER,"  asked  a  child,  "  since  nothing 

/  V  \  's  ever  ^ost>  w^ere  do  a^  our  thoughts 
*•  go?"  "To GOD, "answered  the  mother 
gravely,  "  Who  remembers  them  for  ever." 

"For  ever  !"  said  tne  child  ;  he  bent  his  head, 
and  drawing  closer  to  his  mother,  murmured : 
"  I  am  frightened  !" 

Which  of  us  have  not  felt  the  same  ? 


51 

.     XXXIV. 

ONE  more  solemn  thought :  How  old  are 
you  ?  Nineteen.  Have  you  reckoned  the 
number  of  minutes,  that  have  elapsed 
since  your  birth  ?  The  number  is  startling :  nine 
millions,  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand, 
two  hundred  ....  Each  of  those  minutes  has  flown 
to  GOD  ;  GOD  has  examined  them,  and  weighed 
them,  and  for  them  you  must  give  account. 

Each  minute  bears  its  own  impress  ( as  a  coin 
bears  the  impress  of  the  Sovereign,)  and  only 
those  marked  with  the  image  of  GOD,  will  avail 
you  for  eternity. 

Is  not  this  thought,  one  to  make  you  tremble  ? 

"  I  never  could  understand,"  writes  Guerin, 
"  the  feeling  of  security  some  have,  that  their 
works  must  find  favour  with  GOD — as  if  our  duties 
were  confined  to  the  narrow  limits  of  this  little 
world.  To  be  a  good  son,  statesman,  or  brother, 
is  not  all  that  is  required  of  us  ; — GOD  demands 
far  more  than  this,  from  those  for  whom  He  has 
destined  a  crown  of  glory,  hereafter." 


52 

XXXV. 

ONE  great  characteristic  of  holiness,  is  never 
to  be  exacting  —  never  to  complain. 
Each  complaint  drags  us  down  a  degree, 
in  our  upward  course. 

By   complaining,    I   do  not   mean   the   simple 
imparting  of  our  troubles  to  others. 

Complaint  savours  always  of  a  little  bad  temper, 
and  a  slightly  vindictive  spirit. 


The  saints  were  never  exacting. 

Contented  with  their  lot,  they  never  desired 
anything  that  was  withheld  from  them. 

"  I  have  asked,"  said  a  holy  soul,  "for  some- 
thing I  thought  needful;  they  have  forgotten  to 
answer  me  ;  or  perhaps  would  not  bestow  it. 
Why  need  I  be  disquieted?  If  it  were  really  neces- 
sary, GOD  would  quickly  provide  means  to  obtain 
it."  How  few  could  enter  into  this  feeling,  and 
yet  it  is  but  the  echo  of  CHRIST'S  own  words, 
"Your  FATHER  in  Heaven  knoweth  that  ye  have 
need  of  all  these  things.  " 


55 

XXXVI. 

JOY  in  life  is  like  oil  in  a  lamp.  When  the  oil 
gets  low,  the  wick  is  consumed,  emitting  a 
black  vapour,  and  sending  forth  only  a  lurid 
glow,  which  does  not  give  light. 

A  life  without  joy,  passes  away  unprofitably, 
shedding  around  it  only  gloom  and  sorrow. 

If  every  morning  in  a  simple  prayer — in  those 
fifteen  minutes'  meditation  ( which  only  seems 
hard  when  we  do  not  practise  it )  we  opened  our 
hearts  to  GOD,  as  we  open  our  windows  to  the  sun 
and  air,  GOD  would  fill  it  with  that  calm  sweet 
joy,  which  elevates  the  soul,  prevents  it  feeling 
the  weight  of  troubles,  and  makes  it  overflow  with 
benevolence. 

But  joy  does  not  mean  levity,  witty  sayings,  or 
repartee  ...  .it  is  habitual  serenity. 

Through  a  clear  atmosphere,  we  can  always  see 
the  sky — it  seems  so  light  and  full  of  elasticity. 

A  serene  sky  is  always  pure . . .  .clouds  may  pass 
across  it,  but  they  do  not  stain  it. 

So  is  it,  with  the  heart,  that  early  in  the  morn- 
ing opens  to  receive  GOD'S  Peace. 


54 

XXXVII. 

4i  \  7OU  are  never  out  of  temper,"  was  once  said 
Y  to  a  woman  well  known  to  be  much  tried 
at  home  —  "  is  it  that  you  do  not  feel  the 
injustice,  the  annoyances?"  "I  feel  them  as 
much  as  you  do,"  she  replied,  "  but  they  do  not 
hurt  me."  "You  have  then  some  special  balm  ?" 
"  Yes,  for  the  vexations  caused  by  people,  I  have 
affection;  for  those  of  circumstances  I  have  prayer; 
and  over  every  wound  that  bleeds,  I  murmur  the 
words  :  <  Thy  Will  be  done.'  " 

XXXVIII. 


IF  I  have  no  cross  to  bear  to-day,  I  shall  not 
advance  heavenwards. 
A  cross,  (  that  is  anything  that   disturbs  oui 
peace  )  is  the  spur  which  stimulates,  and  without 
which,  we  should  most  likely  remain  stationary, 
blinded  with  empty  vanities,  and  sinking  deepei 
into  sin. 

A  cross  helps  us  onwards,  in  spite  of  our  apathy 
and  resistance. 

To  lie  quietly  on  a  bed  of  down,  may  seem  a 
very  sweet  existence,  but  pleasant  ease  and  rest 


55 

are  not  the  lot  of  a  Christian — if  he  would  mount 
higher  and  higher,  it  must  be  by  a  rough  road. 

Alas  !  for  those  who  have  no  daily  cross  ! 

Alas  !  for  those  who  repine  and  fret  against  it ! 

JEJhat  Witt  be  mp  Cro$$  do-bap  ? 

Perhaps  that  person  with  whom  Providence 
has  placed  me  and  whom  I  dislike — whose  look 
of  disdain  humiliates  me — whose  slowness  worries 
me — who  makes  me  jealous  by  being  more  beloved, 
more  successful  than  myself — whose  chatter  and 
lightheartedness,  even  her  very  attentions  to 
myself,  annoy  me. 

Or  it  my  be  that  person,  that  I  think  has  quar- 
relled with  me,  and  my  imagination  makes  me 
fancy  myself  watched,  critcised,  turned  into 
ridicule. 

She  is  always  with  me — all  my  efforts  to  separate 
are  frustrated — by  some  mysterious  power,  she  is 
always  present,  always  near. 


This  is  my  heaviest  cross  :  the  rest  are  light  in 
comparison. 

Circumstances  change — temptations  diminish — 


56 

troubles  lessen ;  but  those  people  who  trouble  or 
offend  us  are  an  ever-present  source  of  irritation. 

$oto  to  2Bear  tW  ©ail?  Cntfrf. 

Never  manifest  in  any  way,  the  ennui,  the  dis- 
like, the  involuntary  shudder,  that  her  presence 
produces ;  force  myself  to  render  her  some  little 
service — never  mind  if  she  never  knows  it — it  is 
between  God  and  myself.  Try  and  say  a  little 
good  of  her  every  day,  of  her  talents,  her  character, 
her  tact,  for  there  is  all  that  to  be  found  in  her. 

Pray  earnestly  for  her — even  asking  GOD  to  help 
me  to  love  her  and  to  spare  her  to  me. 

Dear  companion  !  blessed  messenger  of  GOD'S 
mercy,  you  are  without  knowing  it,  the  means  for 
my  sanctification,  and  I  will  not  be  ungrateful ! 

Yes !  though  the  exterior  be  rude  and  repellent, 
yet  to  you  I  owe  it,  that  I  am  kept  from  greater 
sin; — you,  against  whom  my  whole  nature  rebels 
....  how  I  ought  to  love  you  ! 

XXXIX. 

WHO  is  anxious  for  a  beloved  one's  eternal 
welfare? 
We  interest  ourselves  for  their  success, 
— their  prosperity ;  we  ask  GOD  to  keep  them  from 
harm  and  misfortune  ;  we  try  to  start  them  well  in 


57 

the  world — to  make  them  of  reputation — to  procure 
them  pleasure. 

To  spare  them  trouble  we  sacrifice  our  own  ease 
and  enjoyment.  .  .  . 

Oh  !  that  is  all  very  beautiful,  very  right ;  but 
what  should  we  do  for  the  soul  ? 

Do  we  pray  to  GOD  that  this  soul  may  become 
humble,  pure,  devoted  ? 

Do  we  take  as  much  pains  to  procure  him  the 
little  devotional  book,  that  will  really  help  him, 
as  we  should  to  obtain  a  transient  pleasure  ? 

Do  we  help  him  unseen  towards  that  act  of 
charity,  humiliation,  or  self-renunciation  ?  Have 
we  courage  not  to  spare  the  soul  the  trial,  that  we 
know  will  purify  ? 

Does  it  seem  too  hard  for  you  ? 

Ah  !  then  you  do  not  know  what  real  love  is. 
Does  not  GOD  love  us?  Yet,  GOD  lets  us  suffer ; 
even  sends  the  suffering. 

Love  is  given  us,  to  help  us  onwards,  nearer  to 
GOD.  The  most  blessed,  is  that  which  draws  us 
nearest  to  Him  ;  and  in  proportion  as  it  leads  to 
Gor>,  we  realize  its  blessedness. 

The  essence  of  true  love,  is  not  its  tenderness, 
but  its  strength,  power  of  endurance,  its  purity, 
its  self-renunciation. 


58 

The  mistake  we  make,  is  when  we  seek  to  be 
beloved,  instead  of  loving.  What  makes  us  cow- 
ardly, is  the  fear  of  losing  that  love. 

Never  forget  this :  A  selfish  heart  desires  love 
for  itself — a  Christian  heart  delights  to  love — 
without  return. 

XL. 

TO  learn  never  to  waste  our  time  is  perhaps 
one  of  the  most  difficult  virtues  to  ac- 
quire. 

A  well-spent  day  is  a  source  of  pleasure.  To  be 
constantly  employed,  and  never  asking  "What 
shall  I  do  ?"  is  the  secret  of  much  goodness  and 
happiness. 

Begin  then  with  promptitude,  act  decisively, 
persevere,  if  interrupted  be  amiable,  and  return 
to  the  work  unruffled,  finish  it  carefully — these 
will  be  the  signs  of  a  virtuous  soul. 

XLI. 

ARE  you  full  of  peace  ?     Pray  f     Prayer  will 
preserve  it  to  you. 
Are  you  tempted  ?   Pray  !    Prayer  will 
sustain  you. 


Have  you  fallen  ?  Pray  !  Prayer  will  raise 
you. 

Are  you  discouraged  ?  Pray  !  Prayer  will  re- 
assure and  comfort  you. 

XLII. 

THE  young  are  seldom  forbearing,  because 
they  so  little  understand  the  frailties  of  poor 
human  nature. 

Oh !  if  you  could  only  witness  the  terrible 
struggles  passing  in  the  heart  of  that  friend  whose 
vivacity  annoys  you,  whose  fickleness  provokes 
you,  whose  faults  sometimes  even  make  you 
blush  .... 

Oh  !  if  you  saw  the  tears  that  are  shed  in 
secret ;  the  vexation  felt  against  self,  (perhaps  on 
your  account),  you  would  indeed  pity  them.  Love 
them  !  make  allowances  for  them  !  never  let  them 
feel  that  you  know  their  failings. 

To  make  any  one  believe  himself  good,  is  to 
help  him  almost  in  spite  of  self,  to  become  so. 

* 

Forbearance  is  even  more  than  forgiveness ;  it  is 
excusing,  putting  always  the  best  construction 
upon  everything ;  above  all,  never  showing  that 


60 

one  proceeding  has  wounded  us,  speaking  of  any 
one  who  has  vexed  us  thus : — "  she  did  not  think, 
else  she  would  have  acted  differently  ;  she  never 
meant  to  pain  me,  she  loves  me  too  much  ;  she 
was  perhaps  unable  to  do  otherwise,  and  yet  suf- 
fers at  the  thought  of  having  displeased  me." 

For  a  wounded  heart,  no  balm  is  so  efficacious 
as  forbearance. 

To  forbear,  is  to  forget  every  night  the  little  vex- 
ations of  the  past  day ;  to  say  every  morning : 
"  To-day  I  shall  be  braver  and  calmer  than  yes- 
terday." Forbearance  even  sometimes  leads  us 
to  detect  in  ourselves  a  little  want  of  good  nature, 
condescension,  and  charity. 

To  forbear,  is  not  only  freely  to  forgive,  but  to 
meet  half-way,  with  extended  hand,  those  who 
timidly  ask  for  pardon. 

XLIII. 

MY  friend,  do  you  know  why  the  work  you 
accomplish  fails  either  to  give  pleasure  to 
yourself  or  others  ? 

It  is  because  it  is  not  cheerfully  done,  and  there- 
fore appears  discolored. 

A  joyous  heart,  amid  our  work,  imparts  to  duty 
a  brilliancy,  that  charms  the  eyes  of  others,  while 


61 

it  prevents  those  feeling  wounded,  who  cannot 
perform  it  equally  well. 

Joy  with  us,  is  like  a  lever,  by  which  we  lift  the 
weights,  that  without  its  help  would  crush  us. 

A  workman  once  said  :  "  If  I  were  to  leave  off 
singing,  I  should  be  quite  unequal  to  my  busi- 
ness." 

Then  sing  always  ;  let  your  heart  sing  as  in  its 
earliest  years. 

The  refrain  of  the  heart,  which  perhaps  never 
passes  the  lips,  but  which  echoes  in  heaven,  is 
this  sentence :  — 

"  I  love,  and  I  am  beloved  !" 

XLIV. 

WHAT  regret  we  sometimes  feel  after  the 
death,  or  departure  of  a  friend,  at  never 
having    shown   them   the  respect,    the 
gratitude  we  felt  towards  them,  and  how  from  the 
depths  of  our  heart  we  are  filled  with  tenderness 
and  affection  for  them  ! 

It  may  have  been,  that  at  times  we  could  not 
speak,  because  we  thought  too  much  of  how  to 
say  it. 

Another  time,  we  lost  the  opportunity  because 
we  were  always  shirking  it.  Deep  devotion  is 


62 

sometimes  a  little  erratic :  always  afraid  of  doing 
too  little,  doing  it  badly  or  inopportunely. 
Oftener  still  the  tokens  of  affection  are  checked, 
because  we  think  we  could  show  it  in  some  better 
way;  we  put  off  till  brighter  days,  the  dreams  we 
cherished,  the  sweet  yearning  to  open  the  heart  to 
the  loved  ones,  and  let  them  see  for  once,  what  a 
large  place  they  fill  there. 

Alas  !  the  days  fly  past,  suddenly  comes  death, 
or,  sadder  still,  separation  without  hope  of  return, 
leaving  the  bitter  thought:  "Others  will  show 
them  better  than  I  have  done,  how  dear,  how  val- 
ued they  are."  Ah!  when  we  can  be  loving  to- 
day, never  let  us  say  :  "I  will  love  to-morrow  ;" 
when  we  have  the  opportunity  of  being  grateful, 
never  put  off,  for  one  hour,  the  proof  of  our  grati- 
tude ! 

Conclufton. 

LACORDAIRE,  in  preparing  for  a  retreat  in 
the  country,  said  he  only  required  for  his 
realization  of  a  dream  of  happiness   and 
solitude,  three  things: — (i)  GOD;   (2)   a  friend; 
(3)  books. 

God  ! — We  never  fail  to  find  Him,  when  we  are 
pure,  holy,  and  fulfilling  hourly  our  duty. 


A  Friend/ — Responds  always  to  the  heart's  call, 
if  only  that  heart  be  loving  and  devoted. 

Books  ! — Oh  !  if  only  this  little  book  of  Gold 
Dust,  might  be  allowed  to  form  one  of  the  num- 
bers of  those  that  are  carried  away,  far  from  the 
world's  turmoil,  and  read  in  order  to  gain  a  little 
help  and  peace ! 

It  will  take  up  so  little  room  ! 


SECOND  PART. 


I. 
(£&e  JFrienbtp 

UNDER  this  title  we  commence  a  series  of 
short  counsels  for  each  day  of  the  week, 
which  will  be  as  a  friendly  whisper,  the 
voice  of  a  Guardian  Angel,  inspiring,  as  occasion 
presents  itself,  some  good  action,  some  self-denial, 
some  little  sacrifice. 

We  recommend  that  it  should  be  placed  on  the 
writing  table,  in  the  book  we  most  frequently  turn 
to,  or  wherever  it  is  most  likely  to  meet  the  eye. 
What  is  so  often  the  one  thing  wanting  to  some 
devout  person,  devoted  to  doing  good?  Simply 
to  be  reminded  of  it. 


65 


CHARITY. 

BE  good-natured,  benevolent,  keep  up  a  cheer- 
ful expression  of  countenance,  even  when 
alone. 

That  clumsiness,  those  brusque,  rude  manners, 
let  them  pass  without  notice. 

When  wishes  contrary  to  your  own  prevail,  yield 
without  ill-humour,  or  even  showing  your  effort  : 
you  will  give  pleasure,  and  thus  be  pleased  your- 
self. 

Try  to  please,  to  console,  to  amuse,  to  bestow, 
to  thank,  to  help.  That  is  all  in  itself  so  good  ! 

Try  and  do  some  good  to  the  souls  of  others  ! 
An  earnest  word,  some  encouragement,  a  prayer 
softly  breathed. 

Overcome  your  dislike  and  aversion  to  certain 
persons,  do  not  shun  them,  on  the  contrary  go 
and  meet  them.  GOD  goes  before  you. 

Be  courteous  even  to  the  troublesome  individual 
who  is  always  in  your  way.  GOD  sends  him  to 
you. 

Forgive  at  once.     Do  you  believe  harm  was  in- 
tended ?     If  so,  is  it  not  the  greater  merit  ? 
5 


66 

Do  not  refuse  your  alms,  only  let  your  motives 
be  pure,  and  in  giving,  give  as  to  GOD. 

Do  not  judge  the  guilty  harshly;  pity,  and  pray 
for  them. 

Why  imagine  evil  intentions  against  yourself? 
cannot  you  see  how  the  thought  troubles  and  dis- 
quiets you  ? 

Check  the  ironical  smile  hovering  about  your 
lips,  you  will  grieve  the  object  of  it.  Why  cause 
any  one  pain  ? 

Lend  yourself  to  all.  GOD  will  not  suffer  you 
to  be  taken  advantage  of  if  you  are  prompted  by 
the  spirit  of  Charity. 


THE  DIVINE  PRESENCE. 

NEVER  separate  yourself  from  GOD.  How 
sweet  it  is  to  live  always  near  those  who 
love  us  ! 

You  cannot  see  GOD,  but  He  is  there,  just  as  if 
some  friend  were  separated  from  you  by  a  curtain, 
which  does  not  prevent  his  seeing  you,  and  which 
at  any  moment  may  unfold  and  disclose  him  to 
your  view. 
When  the  soul  is  unstained  by  sin,  and  if  we  re- 


67 

main  still  and  recollected,  we  can  perceive  GOD'S 
presence  in  the  heart,  just  as  we  see  daylight 
penetrating  a  room.  We  may  not  be  always 
conscious  of  this  Presence,  but  imperceptibly  it 
influences  all  our  actions.  Oh  !  however  heavy 
may  be  the  burden  you  have  to  bear,  does  it  not 
at  once  become  light,  beneath  the  gaze  of  that 
FATHER'S  Eye  ? 

The  thought  of  GOD  is  never  wearisome  ;  why 
not  always  cherish  it  ?  Go  on  without  trembling, 
beneath  the  Eye  of  GOD,  never  fear  to  smile,  love, 
hope,  and  enjoy  all  that  makes  life  sweet. 
//;  GOD  rejoices  in  our  pleasures  as  a  mother  in  the 
joys  of  her  child. 

What  is  contrary  to  GOD'S  Will,  grieves  Him, 
and  does  you  harm,  that  alone  you  need  fear ;  the 
thought  that  will  stain  your  soul;  the  wish  that 
troubles  your  heart ;  that  unwholesome  action, 
that  will  weaken  your  intellect,  and  destroy  your 
peace. 

Never  long  for  what  GOD  sees  fit  to  deny. 

GOD,  beside  you,  will  repair  your  blunders, 
provide  means,  whereby  you  may  atone  for  that 
sinful  action,  by  one  more  virtuous,  wipe  away  the 
tears  caused  by  some  unmerited  reproof,  or  un- 
kind word. 


68 

You  have  only  to  close  your  eyes  for  a  moment, 
examine  yourself,  and  softly  murmur,  "  LORD, 
help  me  !" 

Can  you  not  hear  GOD'S  Voice  speaking  to 
you  ?  What  !  when  He  says  :  Bear  this,  I  am 
here  to  aid  thee  ;  you  will  refuse  ? 

He  says  :  Continue  another  half  hour  the  work 
that  wearies  thee  ;  and  you  would  stop  ? 

He  says  :     Do  not  that  ;  and  you  do  it  ? 

He  says  :  Let  us  tread  together  the  path  of 
obedience  ;  and  you  answer  :  No  ? 


SCLF-RENUNCIATION. 

DO  not  be  afraid  of  that  word  Renunciation. 
To  you,  perhaps,  it  only  means,  weari- 
ness, restraint,  ennui. 

But  it  means  also,  love,  perfection,  >  sanctifica- 
tion. 


Who  cannot  renounce,  cannot  love. 

Who  cannot  renounce,  cannot  become  perfect. 

Who  cannot  renounce,  cannot  be  made  holy. 


i£ 
''' 


69 

Self-renunciation,  means  devotion  to  our  duty, 
going  on  with  it  in  spite  of  difficulties,  disgust, 
ennui,  want  of  success. 

Self-renunciation,  is  self-sacrifice  under  whatever 
form  it  presents  itself,  prayer,  labour,  love  .... 
all  that  would  be  an  obstacle,  not  merely  to  its  ac- 
.complishment,  but  its  perfection. 

Self-renunciation,  is  to  root  out  all  that  encum- 
bers the  heart,  all  that  impedes  the  free  action  of 
the  HOLY  SPIRIT  within  :  longings  after  an  imag- 
inary perfection  or  well-being  ;  unreal  sentiments 
that  trouble  us  in  prayer,  in  work,  in  slumber, 
that  fascinate  us,  but  the  result  of  which  is  to  de- 
stroy all  real  application. 

Self-renunciation,  is  to  resist  all  the  allurements 
of  the  senses,  that  would  only  give  pleasure  to 
self,  and  satisfy  the  conscience,  by  whispering: 
"  //  is  no  sin  /"  Self-renunciation,  in  short,  is  de- 
stroying, even  at  the  risk  of  much  heartrending, 
all  in  our  heart,  mind,  imagination,  that  could  be 
displeasing  to  GOD. 

Renunciation  is  not  one  single  action.,  that  when 
once  accomplished,  we  experience  relief;  it  means 
a  constant  sacrifice,  restraint,  resisting,  rending, 
each  hour,  each  moment  during  our  whole  life. 

But  is  not  this  a  worry,  a  continual  torment  ? 


7° 

No,  not  if  the  moving  spring  be  love,  or  &odiy 
fear  .... 

Do  you  consider  it  a  trouble  when  you  make 
yourself  less  comfortable,  to  make  room  for  a 
friend  who  visits  you  ? 

Well !  there  are  times  when  GOD  would  make 
you  sensible  of  His  Presence.  He  is  with  you,  and 
to  retain  Him  close,  who  is  all  Purity, will  you  not 
be  more  modest  in  your  behaviour  ? 

If  you  would  receive  Him  into  your  heart  at 
Holy  Communion,  will  you  not  make  room  for 
Him,  by  rooting  out  that  affection  He  has  pointed 
out  to  you  as  dangerous,  that  interest,  that  desire, 
that  worldly  sensual  attachment  ? 

Oh  !  if  you  only  really  loved. 

Would  you  call  it  torture,  or  constraint,  the 
energy  with  which  you  shatter  some  poisoned  cup, 
you  were  almost  enticed  to  drink  ? 

Well !  when  encountering  the  attractive  enjoy- 
ment, the  material  delight,  which  might  lead  you 
astray,  or  the  siren  voice  which  would  allure  you 
from  your  duty  for  a  moment — then  when  con- 
science whispers:  "Beware"  ....  would  you 
be  cowardly  ? 

Alas,  it  is  slowly  and  surely  that  the  stream 
carries  on  to  destruction  the  blossom  that  has 


7r 

fallen  into  its  current.  It  is  little  by  little  that 
pleasure  leads  on  to  sin  the  heart  that  lets  itself  be 
lulled  by  its  charms. 


SUBMISSION. 

AS  soon  as  you  awake  in  the  morning,  try 
and  .realize  GOD  stretching  forth  His 
Hand  towards  you,  and  saying  :  Dostthou 
really  desire  that  I  should  watch  over  thee  this 
day  ?  and  you,  lift  up  your  hands  towards  this  kind 
FATHER,  and  say  to  Him:  "Yes,  yes,  lead  me, 
guide  me,  love  me,  I  will  be  very  submissive  !" 

Beneath  GOD'S  protecting  Hand,  is  it  possible 
that  you  can  be  sorrowful,  fearful,  unhappy  ? 

No;  GOD  will  allow  no  suffering,  no  trial  above 
what  you  are  able  to  bear. 

Then  pass  through  the  day,  quietly  and  calmly, 
even  as  when  a  little  child,  you  had  your  mother 
always  beside  you. 

You  need  only  be  careful  about  one  thing, 
never  to  displease  God,  and  you  will  see  how  lov- 
ingly GOD  will  direct  all  that  concerns  you  : 
material  interests,  sympathies,  worldly  cares,  — 
you  will  be  astonished  at  the  sudden  enlightenment 


72 

that  will  come  to  you,  and  the  wondrous  peace 
that  will  result  from  your  labour  and  your  toil. 

Then,  welcome  trial,  sickness,  ennui,  privations, 
injustice  ....  all  of  it  can  only  come,  directed 
by  GOD'S  Hand,  and  will  wound  the  soul  only  in 
order  to  cleanse  some  spot  within. 

Would  your  mother  have  given  you  a  bitter 
dose,  merely  for  the  sake  of  causing  you  suffer- 
ing ? 

If  your  duty  is  hard,  owing  either  to  its  difficulty 
or  the  distaste  you  feel  towards  it,  lift  your  heart  to 
GOD  and  say  :  " Lord,  help  me,"  ....  then  go 
on  with  it,  even  though  you  seem  to  do  it  imper- 
fectly. 

Should  one  of  those  moments  of  vague  misgiv- 
ings that  leave  the  soul  as  it  were  in  utter  dark- 
ness, come  to  overwhelm  you,  call  upon  GOD,  as 
a  child  in  terror  cries  out  to  its  mother. 

If  you  have  sinned,  oh  !  even  then  be  not  afraid 
of  the  merciful  GOD,  but  with  eyes  full  of  tears, 
say  to  Him  :  "  Pardon  me "  .  .  .  .  and  add 
softly,  "  chastise  me  soon,  O  LORD  !" 

Yes,  yes,  dear  one,  be  always  at  peace,  going 
on  quietly  with  your  daily  duties  ....  more 
than  that,  be  always  joyous. 

And  why  not? 


73 

who  have  no  longer  a  mother  to  love  you, 
and  yet  crave  for  love,  GOD  will  be  as  a  mother  : 
You  who  have  no  brother  to  help  you,  and  have  so 
much  need  of  support,  GOD  will  be  your  brother  : 
You  who  have  no  friends  to  comfort  you,  and  stand 
so  much  in  need  of  consolation,  GOD  will  be  your 
friend. 

Preserve  always  the  childlike  simplicity,  which 
goes  direct  to  GOD,  and  speak  to  Him,  as  you 
would  speak  to  your  mother. 

Keep  that  open  confidence  that  tells  Him  your 
projects,  troubles,  joys,  as  you  tell  them  to  a 
brother. 

Cherish  those  loving  words  that  speak  of  all  the 
happiness  you  feel,  living  in  dependence  upon 
Him,  and  trusting  in  His  Love,  just  as  you  would 
tell  it  to  the  friend  of  your  childhood. 

Keep  the  generous  heart  of  childhood  which 
gives  all  you  have  to  GOD.  Let  Him  freely  take 
whatever  He  pleases,  all  within  and  around  you. 
Will  only  what  He  wills,  desiring  only  what  is  in 
accordance  with  His  Will,  and  finding  nothing 
impossible  that  He  commands. 

Do  you  not  feel  something  soothing  and  con- 
soling in  these  thoughts  ?  The  longer  you  live, 
the  better  you  will  understand  that  true  happiness 


74 

is  only  to  be  found  in  a  life  devoted  to  GOD,  and 
given  up  entirely  to  His  Guidance. 

No  !  no  !  none  can  harm  you,  unless  it  be 
GOD'S  Will,  and  if  He  allows  it,  be  patient  and 
humble;  weep  if  your  heart  is  sore,  but  love 
always,  and  wait  ....  the  trial  will  pass  away, 
but  GOD  will  remain  yours  for  ever. 


PRAYER. 

OH  !  if  you  only  knew  what  it  is  to  pray  !  oh  ! 
if  GOD  would  only  give  you  the  grace  to 
love  prayer.  What  peace  to  your  soul, 
what  love  in  your  heart  ! 

What  joy  would  shine  in  your  countenance, 
even  though  the  tears  streamed  from  your  eyes  ! 

Prayer,  as  the  first  cry  escapes  the  lips,  indi- 
cates to  GOD  that  some  one  would  speak  to  Him, 
and  GOD,  so  good  and  gracious,  is  ever  ready  to 
listen,  (with  all  reverence  we  say  it,)  with  the 
prompt  attention  of  a  faithful  servant.  He  mani- 
fests Himself  to  the  soul,  with  ineffable  love,  and 
says  to  it  :  "  Behold  Me,  thou  hast  called  Me> 
what  dost  thou  desire  of  Me  ?  " 

To  pray,  is  to  remain,  so  long  as  our  prayer 


75 

lasts,  in  the  Presence  of  GOD,  with  the  certainty, 
that  we  can  never  weary  Him,  no  matter  what 
may  be  the  subject  of  our  prayer,  or  at  those 
times  when  we  are  speechless,  and  as  in  the  case 
of  the  good  peasant,  quoted  by  the  Cure  d'Ars, 
we  are  content  to  place  ourselves  before  GOD, 
with  only  the  recollection  of  His  Presence. 

To  pray,  is  to  act  towards  GOD,  as  the  child 
does  to  its  mother,  the  poor  man  towards  the  rich, 
eager  to  do  him  good,  the  friend  towards  his 
friend,  who  longs  to  show  him  affection. 
^.  Prayer  is  the  key  to  all^celestial  treasures^ by  it 
we  penetrate  into  the  midst  of  all  the  joy,  strength, 
mercy,  and  goodness  Divine,  ....  we  receive  our 
well-being  from  all  around  us,  as  the  sponge 
plunged  into  the  ocean  imbibes  without  an  effort 
the  water  that  surrounds  it ....  this  joy,  strength, 
mercy  and  goodness,  become  our  own.j; 

Oh,  yes !  if  you  knew  how  to  pray,  and  loved 
prayer,  how  good,  useful,  fruitful,  and  meritori- 
ous, would  be  your  life. 

Nothing  so  elevates  the  soul  as  prayer. 

GOD,  so  condescending  to  the  soul,  raises  it  with 
Him  to  the  regions  of  light  and  love,  and  then  the 
prayer  finished,  the  soul  returns  to  its  daily  duties, 
with  a  more  enlightened  mind,  a  more  earnest 


76 

will.  It  is  filled  with  radiance  divine,  and  sheds 
of  its  abundance  upon  all  who  approach. 

If  you  would  succeed  in  your  study,  with  the 
success  that  sanctifies,  pray,  before  commencing  ; 

If  you  would  succeed  in  your  intercourse  with 
others,  pray  before  becoming  intimate. 

Nothing  so  smoothes  and  sweetens  life  as 
Prayer. 

There  is  the  solitary  prayer,  when  the  soul 
isolated  from  all  creatures  is  alone  with  GOD  and 
feels  thus  towards  Him:  "  God  and  I ; "  God  to 
love,  /to  adore,  praise,  glorify,  thank. 

God  to  bestow,  /  to  humbly  receive,  to  renounce, 
ask,  hope,  submit !  .  .  .  . 

Ah  !  who  can  tell  all  that  passes  between  the 
soul,  and  its  GOD  ! 

•There  is  the  united  prayer  of  two  friends,  bound 
together  by  a  holy  friendship,  their  desires  and 
thoughts  are  one,  and  as  one  they  present  them- 
selves before  GOD,  crying :  "  Have  mercy  upon 
me!" 

There  is  the  prayer  of  two  hearts  separated  by 
distance,  made  at  the  same  hour  in  the  same 
words.  Soothing  prayer,  that  each  day  reunites 
those  two  sad  hearts  torn  by  the  agony  of  part- 
ing, and  who  in  GOD'S  Presence,  strengthened 


77 

with  the  same  HOLY  SPIRIT,  recover  courage  to 
tread  the  road  to  heaven,  each  in  its  appointed 
sphere. 

Then  there  is  Public  Prayer,  that  which  has 
the  special  promise  of  GOD'S  Presence ;  prayer  so 
comforting  to  the  feeble,  guilty  soul,  who  can  cry 
in  very  truth,  "  My  prayer  ascends  to  GOD,  sup- 
ported by  the  prayers  of  others." 

Oh  !  if  you  knew  how. to  pray,  and  loved  prayer, 
how  happy  and  fruitful  would  be  your  life  ? 


EARNESTNESS. 

YOU  love  GOD,  do  you  not,  dear  one,  whom 
GOD  surrounds  with  so  much  affection  ? 
Yes  !  yes  !  I  love  Him ! 
And  how  do  you  prove  to  Him  your  love? 
I  keep  myself  pure  and  innocent,  so  that  His 
Eye  falling  upon  me,  may  never  see  anything  that 
displeases  Him.     I  keep  myself  calm   and  quiet, 
and  force  myself  to  smile  that  He  may  see  I  am 
contented. 

That  is  right,  but  that  is  not  enough. 

I  think  often  of  how   much   I   owe   Him,   and 


78 

apply  myself  diligently  to  the  work  He  has  given 
me  to  do ;  I  bear  patiently  with  those  I  dislike, 
with  troubles  that  irritate  me ;  when  I  am  weak  I 
call  upon  Him,  when  timid  I  draw  near  to  Him, 
when  sinful  I  implore  pardon,  and  strive  to  do 
my  duty  more  faithfully. 

That  is  right,  biit  that  is  not  enough. 

I  lend  myself  to  the  importunities  of  others.  I 
am  as  a  slave  to  those  who  need  me,  and  take  care 
never  to  judge  any  one  harshly. 

That  is  right,  but  still  it  is  not  enough. 

Ah  !  then  what  more  can  I  do,  good  angel, 
thus  addressing  me,  what  can  I  do  to  show  my 
love  to  GOD  ? 

Devote  thyself  to  doing  good  to  the  souls  of 
others  ! 

Oh  !  if  you  knew  how  it  pleases  GOD  to  see  you 
laboring  for  them!  It  is  like  the  joy  of  a  mother, 
every  time  she  sees  some  one  benefiting  her  child. 

How  thankful  she  is  to  those  who  nursed  it  in 
sickness,  spared  it  pain,  showed  it  some  token  of 
affection,  a  counsel,  a  warning,  that  gave  it  plea- 
sure, by  a  kind  word,  a  plaything,  a  smile. 

All  this  you  may  do  in  that  circle,  more  or  less 
extended,  in  which  you  live. 

Leave  to  GOD'S  Minister,  if  you  will,  the  work 


Ihtst.  79 

of  converting  souls,  and  limit  your  efforts  to  doing 
good  by  bringing  yourself  into  communion  with 
them. 

To  do  so,  means  sweetly,  unconsciously,  softly 
speak  to  them  of  GOD,  carry  them  to  GOD,  lead 
them  to  GOD. 

This  may  be  done  by  gently,  tenderly — by  infer- 
ence as  it  were — speaking  to  them  of  GOD,  thus 
leading  them  towards  Him,  bringing  them  into 
contact  with  Him. 

Hearts  are  drawn  together  by  talking  of  their 
kindred  pursuits,  souls  by  speaking  of  Heavenly 
things. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  this  purpose,  to  pro- 
nounce the  name  of  GOD,  it  will  suffice  that  the 
words  shall  lift  the  soul  beyond  this  material 
world,  and  its  sensual  enjoyments,  and  raise  them 
upwards  to  that  supernatural  atmosphere  neces- 
sary to  the  real  life. 

Speak  of  the  happiness  of  devotion,  the  charm 
of  purity,  the  blessing  of  the  few  minutes'  medi- 
tation at  the  feet  of  JESUS,  the  peace  procured  by 
entire  resignation  to  Providence,  and  the  sweet- 
ness of  a  life  spent  beneath  GOD'S  Fatherly  Eye, 
the  comfort  the  thought  of  Heaven  brings  in  the 
midst  of  trouble,  the  hope  of  the  meeting  again 


8o 

above,  the  certainty  of  eternal  happiness.  This 
is  doing  good  to  others,  drawing  them  nearer  to 
GOD,  and  teaching  them  more  and  more  of  holi- 
ness. 

Limit  your  efforts  to  this  ;  later  on  I  will  tell  you 
what  more  you  may  do. 


SYMPATHY. 

WELCOME  with  joy  each  week,  the  day 
that  GOD  has  called  His  day.    To  each 
day  of  the  week  GOD   has   given   its 
special  mission,  its  share  of  pleasure  and  of  pain, 
necessary  to  purify,  and  fortify,  and  prepare  us 
for  eternity. 

But  Sunday  is  a  day  of  Love. 
On  Saturday  we  lay  aside  our  garments  faded 
and  stained  by  toil,  and  on  Sunday  we  array  our- 
selves in  garments,  not  only  fresher,   but  more 
choice  and  graceful. 

Why  not  prepare  the  heart,  even  as  we  do  the 
body? 

During  the  week,  has  not  the  heart  been  wea- 


ried  with  petty  strife  and  discontent,  interests 
marred,  bitter  words  ? 

Then  why  not  shake  off  all  this,  that  only  chills 
affection  ? — on  the  Saturday  let  us  forgive  freely, 
press  the  hand  warmly,  embrace  each  other,  and 
then  peace  being  restored  within,  we  await  the 
morrow's  awakening. 

Sunday  is  GOD'S  day  of  truce  for  all.  That  day 
laying  aside  all  revenge  and  ill  feeling,  we  must  be 
filled  with  forbearance,  indulgence,  and  amiability. 

Oh  !  how  good  for  us  to  feel  obliged  to  be  recon- 
ciled, and  each  Sunday  renews  the  obligation. 

Let  us  leave  no  time  for  coldness  and  indifference 
to  grow  upon  us  ....  it  only  engenders  hatred? 
and  that  once  established  in  the  heart,  oh !  how 
hard  is  it  to  cast  out  again. 

It  is  like  a  hideous  cancer,  whose  ravages  no 
remedies  can  stay. 

It  is  as  the  venomous  plant,  that  the  gardener 
can  never  entirely  eradicate.  Only  by  a  miracle 
can  hatred  be  destroyed.  At  once  then  let  us 
place  a  barrier  in  our  hearts,  against  the  approach 
of  coolness,  or  indifference,  and  each  Saturday  night 
the  head  of  the  family  shall  thus  address  us: 
"Children,  to-night  we  forgive,  to-night  we  forget, 


and  to-morrow  begin  life  afresh  in  love  one  towards 
another.  " 

II. 

WHEN  I  have  sinned,  wrote  a  pious  soul,  I 
feel  chastisement  will  fall  upon  me,  and 
as  if  I  could  hide  myself  from  GOD'S 
Eye.     I   shrink  into  myself,  and  then  I  pray,  I 
pray,  and  the  chastisement  not  being  sent,  I  again 
expand. 

Chastisement  is  like  a  stone  threatening  to  crush 
me  :  Prayer  is  the  hand  that  withholds  it,  while  I 
make  atonement. 

Oh  !  how  can  those  live  peacefully,  who  never 
pray  ? 


III. 


THEY  are  not  all  there  —  our  dead  —  buried  in 
the  churchyard,   beneath  the   grave,    o'er- 
shadowed  by  a  cross,  and  round  which  the 
roses  bloom. 

There  are  others  which  nothing  can  recall  ; 
they  are  things  which  belong  to  the  heart  alone, 
and  there,  alas  !  have  found  a  tomb. 


83 

Peace  surrounds  me  to-day ;  and  here  in  my  lone 
chamber  I  will  invoke  them,  my  much  loved  dead. 
Come !  ' 

* 

The  first  that  present  themselves,  are  the  sweet 
years  of  childhood,  so  fresh,  so  guileless,  so  happy. 

They  were  made  up  of  loving  caresses,  bounti- 
ful rewards,  and  fearless  confidence ;  the  words, 
pain,  danger,  care,  were  unknown  ;  they  brought 
me  simple  pleasures,  happy  days  without  a 
thought  for  the  morrow,  and  only  required  from 
me  a  little  obedience. 

Alas !  they  are  dead.  .  .  .  and  what  number- 
less things  have  they  carried  with  them  !  What  a 
void  they  have  left ! 

Candor,  lightheartedness,  simplicity,  no  longer 
find  a  place  within  ! 

Family  ties,  so  true,  so  wide,  so  light,  have  all 
vanished  ! 

The  homely  hearth,  the  simple  reward  earned 
by  the  day's  industry,  maternal  chidings,  forgive- 
ness so  ingenuously  sought,  so  freely  given,  prom- 
ises of  amendment,  so  sincere,  so  joyously  re- 
ceived. ...  Is  this  all  gone  forever,  can  I  never 
recall  them  ? 


The  vision  that  follows,  is  that  of  my  early  piety, 
simple  and  full  of  faith,  which  was  as  some  good 
angel  o'ershadowing  me  with  its  snowy  wings,  and 
showing  me  GOD  everywhere,  in  all,  and  with 
all. 

The  good  GOD,  Who  each  day  provides  my 
daily  bread ; 

The  GOD,  Who  spared  my  mother  in  sickness, 
and  relieved  her  when  she  suffered;  GOD,  Who 
shielded  me  from  harm,  when  I  did  right ; 

The  GOD,  Who  sees  all,  knows  all,  and  is  Om- 
nipotent, Whom  I  loved  with  all  my  heart. 

Alas  !  faithful,  simple  piety,  thou  art  dead ;  in 
innocence  alone  couldst  thou  live  ! 


Next  comes  the  love  of  my  earliest  years.  Love 
in  childhood,  love  in  youth,  so  full  of  true,  simple 
joy,  that  initiated  me  in  the  sweet  pleasure  of  de- 
votion, that  taught  me  self-denial  in  order  to  give 
pleasure,  that  destroyed  all  egotism,  by  showing 
me  the  happiness  of  living  for  others. 

Love  of  my  childhood,  love  of  my  youth,  so 
pure,  so  holy,  on  which  I  always  reckoned  when 
they  spoke  to  me  of  trouble,  loneliness,  depression 
.  Thou  also  art  dead. 


85 

An  involuntary  coolness,  an  unfounded  sus- 
picion, never  cleared,  an  ill-natured  story.  .  .  . 
all  these  have  destroyed  that  child  of  Heaven.  I 
knew  it  was  tender,  and  I  cherished  it,  but  I  could 
not  believe  it  to  be  so  frail. 

I  could  make  a  long  list  of  all  the  dead,  en- 
shrined in  my  heart  !  O,  you  who  are  still  young, 
upon  whom  GOD  has  lavished  all  the  gifts  that  are 
lost  to  me,  candor,  simplicity,  innocence,  love,  de- 
votion. .  .  .  guard,  oh,  guard  these  treasures, 
and  that  they  may  never  die,  place  them  beneath 
the  shelter  of  Prayer. 


&be  Spiritual  fcife. 
IV. 

WHAT  a  sweet  life  is  that  !     The  main- 
taining, strengthening  it,has  a  softening 
influence,  and  it  is  a  labor  that  never 
wearies,  never  deceives,  but  gives  each  day  fresh 
cause  for  joy. 

In  the  language  of  devotion,   it  is  called  the 
interior  life,  and  it  is  our  purpose  to  point  out 


86 

minutely,  its  nature,  excellence,  means,  and  hin- 
drances. 

Let  no  one  think  the  interior  life  is  incompati- 
ble with  the  life  domestic  and  social,  which  is  often 
so  engrossing;  just  as  the  action  of  the  heart 
maintained  by  the  constant  flow  of  blood,  in  no 
way  affects  the  outward  movements,  so  is  it  with 
the  life  of  the  soul,  which  consists  chiefly  in  the 
action  of  GOD'S  HOLY  SPIRIT  within,  that  never 
hinders  our  social  duties,  but  on  the  contrary  is  a 
help  towards  fulfilling  them  more  calmly,  more 
perfectly. 


of  t&e  ^Interior  Hife. 

"The  interior  life  is  an  abiding  sense  of  GOD'S 
Presence,  a  constant  union  with  Him.  •"• 

We  learn  to  look  upon  the  heart  as  the  temple 
where  GOD  dwells,  sometimes  glorious  as  above, 
sometimes  hidden  as  in  the  Holy  Eucharist,  and 
we  act,  think,  speak,  and  fulfil  all  our  duties, 
as  in  His  Presence. 

Its  aim  is  to  shun  sin,  and  cultivate  a  detach- 
ment from  all  earthly  things,  by  a  spirit  of  pov- 
erty ;  sensual  pleasures,  by  purity  and  mortifica- 


tion  ;  pride,  by  humility  ;  dissipation,  by  recol- 
lection. 

As  a  rule,  people  are  prejudiced  against  an  in- 
terior life.  Some  are  afraid  of  it,  and  look  upon 
it,  as  a  life  of  bondage,  sacrifice,  and  restraint  ; 
others  despise  it,  as  nothing  but  a  multiplicity  of 
trifling  rules,  tending  only  to  narrow-mindedness 
and  uselessness,  and  fit  only  for  weak  minds.  In 
consequence,  they  are  on  their  guard  against  it, 
and  avoid  the  books  that  treat  of  it. 

They  would  serve  GOD  no  doubt,  but  they  will 
not  subject  themselves  to  the  entire  guidance  of 
His  Spirit;  in  short,  it  is  far  easier  to  bring  a  soul 
from  a  state  of  sin  to  that  of  grace,  than  it  is  to 
lead  a  busy,  active,  zealous  person  to  the  hidden 
contemplative  life  of  the  soul. 


of  tfte  Anterior  Sife. 

GOD  dwelling  within  us,  the  life  of  CHRIST 
Himself,  when  on  earth,  living  always  in  His 
FATHER'S  Presence. 

It  is  the  life  of  which  S.  Paul  speaks  when  he 
says,  "Nevertheless  I  live  ;  yet  not  I,  but  CHRIST 
liveth  in  me." 


88 


All  saints  must  lead  this  life,  and  their  degree 
of  holiness  is  in  proportion  to  the  perfection  of 
their  union  with  GOD. 

CHRIST  animates  their  souls,  even  as  the  soul 
animates  the  body. 

They  own  CHRIST  as  Master,  Counsellor,  and 
Guide,  and  nothing  is  done  without  submitting  it 
to  Him,  and  imploring  His  aid  and  approval. 

CHRIST  is  their  strength,  their  refuge,  their  de- 
fender. 

They  live  in  constant  dependence  upon  Him, 
as  their  Father,  Protector,  and  all-powerful  King. 

They  are  drawn  to  Him,  as  the  child  is  drawn 
by  love,  the  poor  by  need. 

They  let  themselves  be  guided  by  Him,  as  the 
blind  let  themselves  be  led  by  the  child  in  whom 
they  conhde  ;  they  bear  all  suffering  that  comes 
from  Him,  as  the  sick,  in  order  to  be  healed,  bear 
suffering  at  the  hands  of  a  physician  ;  and  they 
lean  on  Him,  as  the  child  leans  on  its  mother's 
breast. 

It  lifts  them  above  the  troubles  and  miseries  of 
life;  the  whole  world  may  seem  a  prey  to  ca- 
lamities ;  themselves,  deprived  of  their  goods 
through  injustice  or  accident,  they  lose  their  re- 
lations through  death,  their  friends  through 


89 

treachery  or  forgetfulness,  their  reputation  and 
honour  from  slander,  a  serious  illness  deprives 
them  of  health,  their  happiness  is  destroyed  by 
hardness  and  temptations  ....  Ah  !  no  doubt, 
they  will  have  these  trials,  no  doubt  they  must 
shed  bitter  tears,  but  still  GOD'S  peace  will  re- 
main to  them,  the  peace  that  passeth  all  under- 
standing, they  will  realize  GOD  has  ordered  it, 
guided  it  with  His  Hand  Divine,  and  they  will  be 
able  to  exclaim,  with  joy,  "Thou  art  left  to  us, 
and  Thou  art  all-sufficient !" 


of  tfoe  Anterior  Xtfe. 

1.  See  God,  that  is  to  say,  be  always  realising 
His  presence,  feeling  Him  near,  as  the  friend, 
from  Whom  we  would   never  be  separated,   in 
work,  in  prayer,  in  recreation,  in  repose.     GOD 
is  not  importunate,  He  never  wearies,  He  is  so 
gracious,  and  merciful,  His  Hand  directs  every- 
thing, and  He  will  not  "  suffer  us  to  be  tempted 
above  that  we  are  able.'' 

2.  Listen  to  God,  be  attentive  to  His  counsels, 
His  warnings ;    we    hear    His    Voice,    in   those 


9° 

Gospel  words  that  recur  to  our  minds,  in  the  good 
thoughts  that  suddenly  dawn  on  us,  the  devout 
words  that  meet  us  in  some  book,  on  a  sheet  of 
paper,  or  falling  from  the  lips  of  a  preacher,  a 
friend,  or  even  a  stranger. 

3.  Speak  to  God,  hold  converse  with  Him,  more 
with  the  heart  than  the  lips,  in  the  early  morn- 
ing's meditation,  ejaculatory  prayer,  vocal  prayer, 
and  above  all  in  Holy  Communion. 

4.  Love  God,  be  devoted  to   Him,  and   Him 
alone,  have  no  affection  apart  from  Him,  restrain 
the  love  that  would  estrange  us  from  Him,  lend 
ourselves  to  all,  out  of  love  to  Him,  but  give  our- 
selves to  Him  alone. 

5.  Think  of  God  ;  reject  whatever  excludes  the 
thought  of  Him.     Of  course,  we  must  fulfil  our 
daily  duties,  accomplishing  them  with  all  the  per- 
fection of  which  we  are  capable,  but  they  must  be 
done  as  beneath  the  Eye  of  God,  with  the  thought 
that  GOD  has  commanded  them,  and  that  to  do 
them  carefully,  is  pleasing  in  His  sight. 


bp  tofcidb  to  attain  t&e  interior  %ife. 

I.   Great  tenderness  of  Conscience,   secured  by 
constant,  regular  and  earnest  confession  to  GOD, 


91 

a  hatred  of  all  sin,  imperfection,   infidelity,  by 
calmly,  but  resolutely  fleeing  every  occasion  of  it. 

2.  Great  purity  of  heart,  by  detachment  from 
all  earthly  things,  wealth,  luxuries,  fame,  kindred, 
friends,  tastes,  even  life   itself  ....    not   that 
we  need  fail  in  love  to  our  kindred  and  friends, 
but  we  must  only  let  the  thought  of  them  abide  in 
the  heart,  as  united  to   the  love  and  thought  of 
GOD. 

3.  Great  purity  of  mind,    carefully   excluding 
from    it   all   useless,   distracting  thoughts   as  to 
past,   present,  or  future,  all  pre-occupation  over 
some  pet   employment,  all  desire  to   be  known, 
and  thought  well  of. 

4.  Great  piirity    of  action,    only   undertaking 
what  lies  in  the  path  of  duty,  controlling  natural 
eagerness  and   activity,  acting  soberly,    with  the 
help  of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT,  the  thought  that  by 
our  deeds  we  glorify  GOD,  pausing  for  a  moment, 
when  passing  from  one  occupation  to  another,  in 
order  to   direct  aright  the  intention,  and  taking 
eare  to  be  always  occupied  in  what  is  useful  and 
beneficial. 

5.  Great   recollectedness  and   self -mortification, 
avoiding,  as  much  as  we  can,  in  keeping  with  our 
social  position,  all  dissipation,  bustle,  disturbance  ; 


9* 

never  allowing  voluntarily,  useless  desires,  looks, 
words,  or  pleasures ;  but  placing  them  under  the 
rule  of  reason,  decorum,  edification  and  love,  tak- 
ing care  that  our  prayers  be  said  slowly  and  care- 
fully, articulating  each  word,  and  trying  to  feel 
the  truth  of  what  we  are  saying. 

6.  Great  care  and  exactitude,  in  all  the  ordinary 
actions  of  life,  above  all  in   the  exercises  of  re- 
ligion, leaving  nothing  to  chance  or  hazard,  be- 
holding in  everything  GOD'S  overruling  Will,  and 
saying  to  oneself  sometimes,  as  the  hour  for  such 
and  such  duty  arrives,    "  I   must  hasten,  GOD  is 
calling  me.  " 

7.  Much  intercourse  with  God,  speaking  to  Him 
with   simplicity,  loving  Him  dearly,  always  con- 
sulting  Him,  rendering  to   Him   an   account  of 
every  action,  thanking  Him  constantly,  and  above 
all,  drawing  near  to   Him  with  joy  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist.     One  great  help  towards  such   sweet 
communion  with  GOD,  will  be  found  in  a  steady 
perseverance  in  the  early  morning's  meditation. 

8.  Much  love  for  our  neighbour,  because  he  is 
the  much-loved  child  of  GOD,  praying  for  him, 
comforting,  teaching,  strengthening,  and  helping 
him  in  all  difficulties. 

* 


93 

t)mDrantrs  to  tf;c  Anterior  Hife. 

1.  Natural  activity,  always  urging  us  on;  and 
making  us  too  precipitate  in  all  our  actions. 

It  shows  itself: 

In  our  projects,  which  it  multiplies,  heaps  up, 
reforms,  and  upsets.  It  allows  of  no  rest,  until 
what  it  has  undertaken  is  accomplished. 

In  our  actions.  Activity  is  absolutely  necessary 
to  us.  We  load  ourselves  with  a  thousand  things 
beyond  our  duty,  sometimes  even  contrary  to  it. 
Everything  is  done  with  impetuosity  and  haste, 
anxiety  and  impatience  to  see  the  end. 

In  our  conversation.  Activity  makes  us  speak 
without  thinking,  interrupting  rudely,  reproving 
hastily,  judging  without  appreciation.  We  speak 
loudly,  disputing,  murmuring,  and  losing  our 
temper. 

In  prayer.  We  burden  ourselves  with  number- 
less prayers,  repeated  carelessly,  without  atten- 
tion, and  with  impatience  to  get  to  the  end  of 
them ;  it  interferes  with  our  meditations,  wearies, 
torments,  fatigues  the  brain,  drying  up  the  soul, 
and  hindering  the  work  of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT. 

2.  Curiosity  lays  the  soul  open  to  all  external 
things,  fills  it  with  a  thousand  fancies  and  ques- 
tionings,   pleasing   or    vexatious,    absorbing  the 


94 

mind,  and  making  it  quite  impossible  to  retire 
within  oneself,  and  be  recollected.  Then  follow 
distaste,  sloth  and  ennui  for  all  that  savours  of 
silence,  retirement,  and  meditation. 

Curiosity  shows  itself,  when  studies  are  under- 
taken, from  vanity,  a  desire  to  know  all  things, 
and  to  pass  as  clever,  rather  than  the  real  wish  to 
learn,  in  order  to  be  useful — in  reading,  when  the 
spare  time  is  given  up  to  history,  papers,  and 
novels — in  walking,  when  our  steps  would  lead 
us,  where  the  crowd  go  to  see,  to  know,  only  in 
order  to  have  something  to  retail;  in  fact,  it 
manifests  itself  in  a  thousand  little  actions;  for 
instance,  pressing  forward  with  feverish  haste  to 
open  a  letter  addressed  to  us,  longing  eagerly  to 
see  anything  that  presents  itself — always  being 
the  first  to  tell  any  piece  of  news  ....  When 
we  forget  GOD,  He  is  driven  from  the  heart,  leav- 
ing it  void,  and  then  ensues  that  wild  craving  to 
fill  up  the  void  with  anything  with  which  we  may 
come  into  contact. 

3.  Cowardice.  God  does  not  forbid  patient, 
submissive  pleading,  but  murmuring  fears  are  dis- 
pleasing to  Him,  and  He  withdraws  from  the  soul 
that  will  not  lean  on  Him.  Cowardice  manifests 
itself,  when  in  the  trials  of  life,  we  rebel  against  the 


95 

Divine  will  that  sends  us  illness,  calumny,  priva- 
tion, desertion  ;  when  in  dryness  of  soul,  we  leave 
off  our  prayers  and  communions,  because  we  feel 
no  sensible  sweetness  in  them,  when  we  feel  a 
sickness  of  the  soul,  that  makes  us  uneasy,  and 
fearful  that  GOD  has  forsaken  us. 

The  soul  estranged  from  GOD,  seeks  diversion 
in  the  world,  but  in  the  midst  of  the  world,  GOD 
is  not  to  be  found,  when  temptations  come, 
wearied,  frightened,  and  tormented,  we  wander 
farther  and  farther  away  from  Him,  crying,  "  I 
am  forsaken,"  when  the  trial  has  really  been  sent, 
in  order  to  keep  us  on  our  guard,  prevent  our  be- 
coming proud,  and  offering  us  an  opportunity  for 
showing  our  love. 

V. 

(Cftc  Wesson  of  a  ^Daisp. 

1SAW   her  from  afar,  poor  child,  she  looked 
dreamy  as  she  leant  against  the  window,  and 
held  in   her  hand   a   daisy,   which  she  was 
questioning  by    gradually   pulling   it   to    pieces. 
What  she  wanted  to  ascertain  I  cannot  tell,  I  only 
heard  in   a  low  murmur,  falling  from  her   pale 
lips,  these  words  :   "  a  little,  a  great  deal,  passion- 


96 

ately,  not  at  all,"  as  each  petal  her  fingers  pulled 
away  fell  fluttering  at  her  feet. 

I  could  see  her  from  a  distance,  and  I  felt 
touched. 

Poor  child,  why  do  you  tell  a  flower  the  thought 
that  troubles  you  ?  have  you  no  mother  ? 

Why  be  anxious  about  the  future  ?  have  you 
not  GOD  to  prepare  it  for  you,  as  tenderly  as 
eighteen  years  ago  your  mother  prepared  your 
cradle  ? 

Finally,  when  the  daisy  was  all  but  gone,  when 
her  fingers  stopped  at  the  last  petal,  and  her  lips 
murmured  the  word  little,  she  dropped  her  head 
upon  her  arms,  discouraged,  and  poor  child,  she 
wept  ! 


Why  weep,  my  child  ?  is  it  because  this  word 
does  not  please  you  ? 

Let  me,  let  me,  in  the  name  of  the  simple  daisy 
you  have  just  destroyed,  give  you  the  experience 
of  my  old  age. 

Oh  1  if  you  only  knew  what  it  costs  to  have 
much  of  anything  ! 

A  great  deal  of  wit  often  results  in  spitefulness, 
which  makes  us  cruel  and  unjust,  in  jealousy  that 


97 

torments,  in  deception  that  sullies  all  our 
triumphs,  and  pride  which  is  never  satisfied. 

A  great  deal  of  heart  causes  uneasiness,  which 
vexes,  pain  that  rends  asunder,  grief  that  nearly 
kills  ....  sometimes  even  the  judgment  is  de- 
ceived. 

A  great  deal  of  attractiveness,  means  often  a 
consuming  vanity,  overwhelming  deception,  an 
insatiable  desire  to  please,  a  fear  of  being  unap- 
preciated, a  loss  of  peace,  domestic  life  much 
neglected. 

A  great  deal  of  wealth  and  success  are  the  cause 
of  luxury  that  enfeebles,  loss  of  calm,  quiet  hap- 
piness, loss  of  love,  leaving  only  the  flattery  that 
captivates. 

No,  no,  my  child,  never  long  for  a  great  deal 
in  this  life,  unless  it  be  for  much  forbearance, 
much  goodness. 

And  if  it  should  be  GOD'S  WILL  to  give  you 
much  of  anything,  then,  oh,  pray  it  may  never  be 
to  your  condemnation. 


Is  passionately  the  word  you  long  for?  Pas- 
sionately !  oh,  the  harm  that  is  done  by  that 
word  !  there  is  something  in  the  thought  of  it 


that   makes    me    shudder.     Passionate.y    means 
transport,  frenzy,  excess  in  everything. 

The  life  that  the  word  passionately  describes, 
must  be  a  life  full  of  risks  and  dangers ;  and  if  by 
little  short  of  a  miracle,  nothing  outwardly  wrong 
appears,  the  inner  life  must  resemble  a  palace, 
ravaged  by  fire,  where  the  stranger  sees  nothing 
but  cracked  walls,  blackened  furniture,  and 
drapery  hanging  in  shreds  ! 

* 

My  child,  I  would  prefer  for  you  the  words  not 
at  all,  as  applied  to  fortune,  external  charms,  and 
all  that  goes  by  the  name  of  glory,  success,  and 
fascination  in  the  world.  I  know  it  may  seem  a 
hard  sentence,  involving  a  continual  self-denial, 
and  exacting  incessant  hard  labour  to  obtain  the 
bare  necessities  of  life  for  those  we  love. 

But  do  not  be  afraid  of  it.  GOD  never  leaves 
His  creatures  in  absolute  need.  GOD  may  de- 
prive a  face  of  beauty,  a  character  of  amiability, 
a  mind  of  brilliancy,  but  He  will  never  take  away 
a  heart  of  love ;  'with  the  faculty  of  loving,  He 
adds  the  power  of  prayer,  and  the  promise  always 
to  listen  to,  and  answer  it. 


99 

As  long  as  we  can  love  and  pray,  life  has 
charms  for  us. 

Love  produces  devotion,  and  devotion  brings 
happiness,  even  though  we  may  not  understand 
it 

In  prayer  we  feel  we  are  beloved,  and  the  Love 
of  GOD,  oh,  if  only  you  knew  how  it  compensates 
for  the  indifference  of  our  fellow-creatures  ! 


There  now  only  remains  to  us  the  last  words  of 
the  daisy,  a  little .'  the  loving  fatherly  answer  GOD 
has  given  to  your  childish  curiosity. 

Accept  it,  and  make  it  the  motto  of  your  life  I 

A  little;  moderation  in  wealth  and  fortune,  a 
condition  that  promises  the  most  peaceful  life, 
free  from  anxiety  for  the  future,  doubtless  requir- 
ing daily  duties,  but  permitting  many  innocent 
enjoyments. 

A  little;  moderation  in  our  desires,  contentment 
with  what  we  possess,  making  the  most  of  it,  and 
repressing  all  vain  dreams  of  a  more  brilliant  posi- 
tion, a  more  extended  reputation,  a  more  famous 
name. 

A  little ;  the  affection  of  a  heart  devoted  to 
duty,  and  kindling  joy  in  the  family  circle,  com- 


posed  of  kindred  to  love,  friends  to  cheer,  poor  to 
succour,  hearts  to  strengthen,  sufferings  to  allevi- 
ate. 

A  little  ;  a  taste  for  all  that  is  beautiful ;  books, 
works  of  art,  music,  not  making  us  idly  dream  of 
fame,  but  simply  providing  enjoyment  for  the 
mind,  all  the  more  keen,  as  the  daily  toil  renders 
the  occasion  rare. 

Do  you  see,  my  child,  how  much  may  lie  be- 
neath those  simple  words,  a  little,  that  the  daisy 
gave  you,  and  that  you  seem  so  much  to  despise  ? 

Never  scorn  anything  that  seems  wanting  in 
brilliancy,  and  remember  to  be  really  happy 
we  must  have 

More  virtue  than  knowledge, 

More  love  than  tenderness, 

More  guidance  than  cleverness, 

More  health  than  riches, 

More  repose  than  profit. 

VI. 

EACH  day  is  like  a  furrow  lying  before  us  ; 
our  thoughts,  desires,  and  actions  are  the 
seed  that  each  minute  we  drop  into   it, 
without  seeming    to    perceive    it.      The   furrow 


finished,  we  commence  upon  another,  then  an- 
other, and  again  another ;  each  day  presents  a 
fresh  one,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  life .... 
sowing,  ever  sowing.  And  all  we  have  sown 
springs  up,  grows  and  bears  fruit,  almost  un- 
known to  us,  even  if  by  chance  we  cast  a  back- 
ward glance  we  fail  to  recognize  our  work. 

Behind  us,  angels  and  demons,  like  gleaners, 
gather  together  in  sheaves  all  that  belongs  to 
them. 

Every  night  their  store  is  increased.  They  pre- 
serve it,  and  at  the  last  day  will  present  it  to  their 
Master. 

Is  there  not  a  thought  in  this  that  should  make 
us  reflect  ? 

VII. 

"  learn  of  Me,  for  31  am  meeh  anto  lotnlp  of  ifceart." 

THIS  is  a  simple  rule  of  life  for  me,  requiring 
no  more  than  I  am  able,  but  I  feel  it  unites 
me  to  GOD,  makes  me  more  devout,  more 
faithful  to  duty,  more  ready  for  death.     Since  I 
made  it  my  rule,  it  has  been  to  me  a  source  oi 
consolation,  enlightenment  and  strength,  and  yet 


GOD  alone  knows  how  full  of  pain  my  life  has 
been  ! 

Dear  friends,  who  like  myself,  long  to  become 
holy,  I  commend  this  sentence  to  you,  in  all  its 
simplicity;  listen,  for  it  comes  from  the  loving 
Heart  of  JESUS,  it  fell  from  His  gentle  Lips  : 

"Learn  of  Me,  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  of 
heart." 

I.    2P 


i.    MEEK  TOWARDS  GOD. 

LIVING  from  day  to  day  beneath  His  Eye, 
and  where  all  things  are  ordered  by  a 
Divine  Providence. 

As  carefully  as  a  mother  arranges  the  room 
where  her  child  will  pass  the  day,  does  GOD  pre- 
pare each  hour  that  opens  before  me.  Whatever 
has  to  be  done,  it  is  His  Will  that  I  should  do  it, 
and  in  order  that  it  should  be  done  well,  He  pro- 
vides the  necessary  time,  intelligence,  aptitude 
and  knowledge. 

Whatever  of  suffering  presents  itself,  He  ex- 
pects me  to  bear  it,  even  though  I  may  not  see 
any  reason  for  it,  and  if  the  pain  be  so  sharp  as  to 
call  forth  a  cry,  He  gently  whispers:  "  Courage, 
My  child,  for  it  is  My  will  1" 


103 

If  anything  occurs  to  hinder  my  work,  anything 
goes  contrary  to  my  plans  and  projects,  He  has 
ordained  it  so,  on  purpose,  because  He  knows 
that  too  much  success  would  make  me  proud,  too 
much  ease  would  make  me  sensual,  and  He  would 
teach  me  that  the  road  to  heaven,  is  not  success, 
but  labour  and  devotion, 

With  such  thoughts  as  these,  all  rebellion  is 
hushed  1  With  what  peace,  what  joy  our  work  may 
be  begun,  continued,  interrupted  and  resumed  ! 

With  what  energy  we  reject  those  enemies  that 
assail  us  at  every  hour ;  idleness,  haste,  preoccu- 
pation, success,  want  of  perseverance  under  diffi- 
culties t 

Does  the  past  sometimes  rise  up  to  trouble  me 
with  the  thought  of  the  many  years  spent  without 
GOD? 

Ah !  no  doubt  the  shame  and  grief  are  sharp 
and  keen,  but  why  need  they  disturb  my  peace 
of  mind  ? 

Has  not  GOD  promised  His  pardon  for  His 
blessed  SON'S  sake,  to  all  who  truly  repent  and 
unfeignedly  believe  His  Holy  Gospel?  Have  I 
made  a  full  avowal  and  entire  submission  ?  and 
am  I  not  willing  to  fulfil  whatever  I  am  advised  in 
GOD'S  Name  to  do  for  the  future  ? 


Does  the  future  in  its  turn  seem  to  frighten  me  ? 
I  smile  at  the  foolish  fancies  of  my  imagination; 
is  not  my  future  in  GOD'S  Hands  ? 

What;  when  all  that  will  befall  me  to-morrow, 
next  year,  ten  years,  twenty  years  hence,  is  or- 
dained by  Him,  shall  I  distress  myself  with  the 
thought  that  it  may  not  be  good  for  me  ! 

LORD  !  be  Thou  my  Guide,  and  choose  my  lot, 
as  may  seem  best  to  Thee  ! 

2.  MEEK  UNDER  ALL  CIRCUMSTANCES. 

EVENTS   are   messengers   of   either    Divine 
Goodness,  or  justice. 
Each  has  a  mission  to  fulfil,  and  as  it 
comes  from  GOD,  why  not  let  it  be  accomplished 
in  peace  ? 

Painful,  heartrending,  though  they  may  be,  they 
are  still  the  Will  of  GOD.  Watch  them  as  they 
come,  with  a  little  trembling,  perhaps  even  terror, 
but  never  let  them  destroy  in  the  least  degree,  my 
faith  and  resignation. 

To  be  meek  under  these  circumstances,  does  not 
mean  awaiting  them  with  a  stoic  firmness  which 
proceeds  from  pride,  or  hardening  oneself  against 
them  to  the  point  of  repressing  all  trembling,  no  ! 


105 

GOD  allows  us  sometimes  to  anticipate,  postpone, 
or  even  when  possible  flee  them,  at  any  rate  we 
may  try  to  soothe,  and  soften  them  a  little. 

The  GOOD  FATHER,  when  He  sends  them, 
sends  at  the  same  time  the  means  by  which  they 
may  be  endured,  and  perhaps  averted. 

Remedies,  in  sickness, 

Love,  in  trouble, 

Devotion,  in  privations, 

Comfort,  in  weakness, 

Tears,  in  sorrow. 

GOD  has  created  all  these,  and  knowing  perhaps 
that  I  may  fail  to  find  them,  He  has  given  com- 
mandment to  some  privileged  servants  to  love, 
console,  soothe,  and  help  me,  saying  to  them, 

"  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the 
least  of  these  My  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  as 
unto  Me." 

Oh !  welcome  then  the  friendly  voice,  that  in 
the  midst  of  trouble,  speaks  to  me  of  hope ;  I  will 
receive  with  gratitude  the  care  that  affection 
presses  upon  me. 

With  thankfulness  I  accept  the  time  devoted  to 
me,  privation  borne  for  my  sake,  and  I  will  pray 
GOD  to  bless  these  kind  friends,  and  ask  Him  to 
say  to  them,  words  such  as  these  :  "All  that  thou 


106 

hast  done  for  Mine,  I  will  repay  thee  a  hundred- 
fold." 


3.    MEEK  TOWARDS  OTHERS. 

THIS  may  seem  even  more  difficult,  for  it  so 
often  appears  to  us,  as  if  others  were  actua- 
ted by  malice. 

But  how  often  it  is  only  the  result  of  tempera- 
ment, pride,  thoughtlessness ;  seeking  their  own 
pleasure,  without  a  thought  of  the  harm  they  are 
doing  me;  then  why  be  unhappy  about  it?  I 
need  only  to  be  on  my  guard. 

Never  stand  in  the  way  of  others,  (when  it  is 
not  the  case  of  a  duty  to  be  fulfilled)  and  if  they 
sometimes  are  an  obstacle  in  yours,  remove  them 
gently,  but  do  not  harm  them. 

Yielding,  submitting,  retiring,  giving  up,  this 
should  be  our  conduct  towards  the  members  of 
our  family,  and  those  we  call  our  friends. 

The  more  facility  you  give  them  for  doing  what 
they  think  right,  the  more  you  enter  into  the  feel- 
ings they  have  of  their  own  importance,  leaving 
them  a  free  course  of  action,  so  much  the  more 
will  you  be  likely  to  be  useful  to  them,  and  retain 
your  own  peace  of  mind. 


107 

It  is  astonishing  how  those  we  never  press,  open 
their  hearts  to  us  ! 

Do  not  try  to  examine  too  minutely  the  actions 
of  others,  or  the  motives  that  actuate  them ;  if 
they  are  wanting  in  tact,  appear  not  to  notice  it, 
or  better  still,  try  and  think  they  have  made  a 
mistake. 

The  best  remedy  for  the  dislike  we  feel  towards 
any  one,  is  to  endeavour  to  try  and  do  them  a  little 
good  every  day ;  the  best  cure  for  their  dislike  to 
us,  is  to  try  and  speak  kindly  of  them. 

Are  those  around  you  wicked  ?  be  cautious,  but 
do  not  lose  heart,  GOD  will  not  let  them  harm  you. 

How  easy  for  GOD  to  stay  the  consequences  of 
slander  and  calumny ! 

GOD  is  the  shield,  interposing  between  others, 
circumstances,  and  myself. 

4.  MEEK  TOWARDS  SELF. 

THIS  does  not  imply  self-complacency,  self- 
indulgence,   self-justification,   but    simply 
encouragement,  strength,  and  fortitude. 
Encouragement  in  some  wearisome  monotonous 
unrecognised    work,    with    a   thought  like  this: 
"  GOD  is  watching  me,  and  wishes  me  to  do  this." 


This  labour  occupies  my  mind,  perfects  my  soul, 
and  shields  me  from  mischief. 

Encouragement  such  as  this,  in  the  midst  of 
sadness  and  isolation,  when  no  one  thinks  of  us, 
or  gives  us  the  smallest  token  of  sympathy  :  "Is 
not  my  duty  sufficient  for  me  ?  GOD  requires  it  of 
me,  and  it  will  lead  me  to  Heaven." 

Strength  to  rise  again  after  some  failure,  some 
humiliating  fault,  some  depressing  weakness;  rise 
again  lovingly,  confidingly,  and  with  the  thought, 
"  Never  mind,  it  is  a  GOOD  FATHER,  a  Kind 
Master,  with  Whom  I  have  to  deal."  Confess 
your  sin,  humble  yourself,  and  while  awaiting  the 
assurance  of  pardon  go  on  with  your  daily  work, 
with  the  same  zeal  as  before. 

Fortitude,  against  the  desertion  and  forgetful- 
ness  of  others. 

We  have  two  things  to  fortify  us  :  Prayer  and 
Labour, 

One  to  cheer  us :  Devotion. 

These  remedies  are  always  at  hand. 


I09 

II.    33e  fumble, 
i.  HUMBLE  WITH  GOD. 

RESTING  always  in  his  Presence  like  a  little 
child,  or  even  a  beggar,  who  knowing 
nothing  is  due  to  him,  still  asks,  loves 
and  awaits,  feeling  sure  that  hour  by  hour  in  pro- 
portion to  our  need,  GOD  will  provide  all  that  is 
needful,  and  even  over  and  above  what  is  abso- 
lutely necessary.  Live  peacefully  under  the  pro- 
tection of  Divine  Providence ;  the  more  you  feel 
your  insignificance,  weakness,  sickness,  misery, 
the  more  right  you  have  to  the  pity  and  love  of 
GOD. 

Only  pray  fervently ;  let  your  prayer  be  thought- 
ful and  reverent,  sweet,  and  full  of  hope.  The 
poor  have  nothing  left  to  them  but  prayer,  but 
that  prayer,  so  humble,  so  pleading,  ascends  to 
GOD,  and  is  listened  to  with  Fatherly  love  : 

Do  not  have  a  number  of  varied  prayers,  but  let 
the  "  Our  FATHER  "  be  ever  on  your  lips,  and  in 
your  heart. 

Love  to  repeat  to  GOD  the  prayer  that  CHRIST 
Himself  has  taught,  and  for  His  sake  is  always 
accepted. 

Look  upon  yourself  as  a  hired  servant  of  GOD, 


to  whom  He  has  promised  a  rich  reward,  at  the 
end  of  the  day,  He  calls  life;  each  morning,  hold 
yourself  in  readiness  to  obey  all  His  commands,  in 
the  way  He  wills,  and  with  the  means  He  appoints. 

The  command  may  not  always  come  direct  from 
the  Master,  it  would  be  too  sweet  to  hear  only 
GOD'S  Voice ;  but  He  sends  it  by  means  of  His 
ambassadors ;  these  go  by  the  names  of  superiors, 
equals,  inferiors,  sometimes  enemies. 

Each  has  received  the  mission  (  without  know- 
ing it)  to  make  you  holy;  one  by  subduing  your 
independence,  another  by  crushing  your  pride,  a 
third  by  spurring  your  slothfulness. 

They  will,  though  fulfilling  GOD'S  command,  do 
it  each  in  their  own  way,  sometimes  roughly, 
sometimes  maliciously,  sometimes  in  a  way  hard 
to  bear  ....  what  does  it  matter,  so  long  as  you 
feel  that  all  you  do,  all  you  suffer,  is  the  Will  of 
GOD? 

Do  your  duty  as  well  as  you  can,  as  you  under- 
stand it,  as  it  is  given  to  you  ;  say  sometimes  to 
GOD,  "  My  Master,  art  Thou  satisfied  with  me?" 
and  then  in  spite  of  ennui,  fatigue,  repugnance, 
go  on  with  it,  faithfully  to  the  end. 

Then  whether  praise  or  blame  be  yours,  you 
will,  good  faithful  servant,  at  least  have  peace. 


2.  HUMBLE  TOWARDS  OTHERS. 

LOOK  upon  yourself  as  the  servant  of  all,  but 
without  ostentation,  or  their  having  any 
knowledge  of  it. 

Repeat  to  yourself  sometimes  the  words  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary :  "Behold  the  handmaid  of 
the  LORD,"  and  those  of  out  LORD,  "  I  came  not 
to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister,"  and  then 
act  towards  others  as  if  you  were  their  slave,  warn- 
ing, aiding,  listening;  abashed  at  what  they  do 
for  you,  and  always  seeming  pleased  at  anything 
they  may  require  you  to  do  for  them. 

Oh !  if  you  knew  the  full  meaning  of  these  words, 
all  they  signify  of  reward  in  heaven,  of  joy  and 
peace  on  earth,  how  you  would  love  them ! 

Oh  !  if  you  would  only  make  them  the  rule  of 
your  life  and  and  conduct,  how  happy  you  would 
be  yourself,  and  how  happy  you  would  make 
others ! 

Happy  in  the  approval  of  conscience,  that  whis- 
pers, "you  have  done  as  CHRIST  would  have 
done." 

Happy  in  the  thought  of  the  reward  promised  to 
those  who  give  even  a  cup  of  cold  water  in  the 
Name  of  JESUS  CHRIST;  happy  in  the  assurance 


that  GOD  will  do  for  you  what  you  have  done 
for  others. 

Oh  !  what  matters  then  ingratitude,  forgetful- 
ness,  contempt,  and  scorn  ?  They  will  pain,  no 
doubt,  but  will  have  no  power  to  sadden,  or  dis- 
courage. 

Precious  counsel,  inspired  by  CHRIST  Himself, 
I  bless  you  for  all  the  good  you  have  done  me  ! 

When  first  those  words  found  entrance  to  my 
heart,  they  brought  with  them  peace  and  strength 
to  stand  against  deception,  desertion,  discourage- 
ment, and  the  resolute  will  to  live  a  life  more  de- 
voted to  GOD,  more  united  to  Him,  more  contented, 
and  ever  pressing  onward  towards  heaven.  Once 
more,  I  bless  you  ! 

Precious  counsels,  enlighten,  guide,  and  lead  me. 


VIII. 
K  Simple  Draper. 

OJESU  !  in  the  midst  of  glory,  forget  not  the 
sadness  upon  earth  !    Have  mercy  upon 
those,  to  whom  GOD  has  sent  the  bitter 
trial  of  separation  from  those  they  love  ! 

Have  mercy  on  that  loneliness  of  heart  so  full 
of  sadness,  so  crushing,  sometimes  full  of  terror  ! 


(»S0U»  fpufit.  "3 


Have  mercy  upon  those  struggling  against  the 
dfficulties  of  life,  and  faint  with  discouragement  ! 

Have  mercy  on  those,  whom  fortune  favours, 
whom  the  world  fascinates,  and  who  are  free  from 
care  ! 

Have  mercy  on  those  to  whom  Thou  hast  given 
great  tenderness  of  heart,  great  sensitiveness  ! 

Have  mercy  on  those  who  cease  to  love  us,  and 
never  may  they  know  the  pain  they  cause  ! 

Have  mercy  on  those  who  have  gradually  with- 
drawn from  Holy  Communion,  and  Prayer,  and 
losing  peace  within,  weep,  yet  dare  not  return 
to  Thee  ! 

Have  mercy  on  all  we  love  :  make  them  holy,  even 
through  suffering  !  if  ever  they  estrange  themselves 
from  Thee,  take,  oh,  take  all  my  joys,  and  decoy 
them  with  the  pleasures,  back  again  to  Thee  1 

Have  mercy  on  those  who  weep,  those  who  pray, 
those  who  know  not  how  to  pray  ! 

To  all,   O  JESUS  !    grant  Hope  and  Peace  ! 


Y 


IX. 

&impfe  Countfey  for  a  goun0  <5ttL 
ES,  very  simple.    Listen,  my  child,  and  may 
they  sink  deep  into  your  heart,  as  the  dew 
sinks  in  the  calyx  of  the  flower. 

8 


"4 

These  are  my  counsels  : 

Distrust  the  love  that  comes  too  suddenly. 

Distrust  the  pleasure  that  fascinates  so  keenly. 

Distrust  the  words  that  trouble,  or  charm. 

Distrust  the  book  that  makes  you  dream. 

Distrust  the  thought  you  cannot  confide  to  your 
mother. 

Treasure  these  counsels,  and  sometimes  as  you 
read  them,  ask  yourself,  "  Why?"  Guardian  Angel 
of  the  child  we  are  adressing,  teach  her  the  reason 
of  these  sentences  that  seem  to  her  so  exaggerated  ' 

X. 

%  llccipc  for  nclicr  anuopiug  our  JFrien&jS. 

THIS   was   made  by    one   who   had   suffered 
much  for  many    years,  from     numberless 
little   worries,    occasioned   by    a   relative, 
whose  affection  no  doubt  was  sincere  and  devoted, 
but  also  too  ardent,  and  wanting  in  discretion. 

.There  must  be  moderation  in  all  things,  even  in 
the  love  we  manifest,  the  care  we  take  to  shield 
them  from  trouble. 

This  recipe  consists  of  but  four  simple  rules,  very 
clear,  very  precise ;  behold  them  : 

I.  Always  leave  my  friend  something  more  to 


115 

desire  of  me.  If  he  asks  me  to  go  and  see  him 
three  times,  I  go  but  twice.  He  will  look  forward 
to  my  coming  a  third  time,  and  when  I  go,  receive 
me  the  more  cordially. 

It  is  so  sweet  to  feel  we  are  needed,  and  so  hard 
to  be  thought  importunate. 

2.  Be  useful  to  my  friend,  as  far  as  he  permits, 
and  no  further. 

An  over-anxious  affection  becomes  tiresome, 
and  a  multiplicity  of  beautiful  sentiments  makes 
them  almost  insupportable. 

Devotion  to  a  friend  does  not  consist  in  doing 
everything  for  him,  but  simply  that  which  is 
agreeable,  and  of  service  to  him,  and  let  it  only 
be  revealed  to  him  by  accident. 

We  all  love  freedom,  and  cling  tenaciously  to 
our  little  fancies,  we  do  not  like  others  to  arrange 
what  we  have  purposely  left  in  disorder;  we  even 
resent  their  over-anxiety  and  care  for  us. 

3.  Be  much  occupied  with  my  own  affairs  and 
little,  very  little,  with  those  of  my  friend. 

This  infallibility  leads  to  a  favorable  result.  To 
begin  with,  in  occupying  myself  with  my  own 
affairs,  I  shall  the  more  speedily  accomplish  them, 
while  my  friend  is  doing  the  same. 

If  he  appeals  to  me  for  help,  I  will  go  through 


"6 

both  fire  and  water  to  serve  him,  but  if  not,  then  I  do 
myself  and  him  the  greater  service  by  abstaining. 
If,  however,  I  can  serve  him  without  his  knowledge 
of  it,  and  I  can  see  his  need,  then  I  must  be  al- 
ways ready  to  do  it. 

4.  Leave  my  friend  always  at  liberty  to  think 
and  act  for  himself  in  matters  of  little  importance. 
Why  compel  him  to  think  and  act  with  me  ?  Am 
/  the  type  of  all  that  is  beautiful  and  right  ?  Is  it 
not  absurd  to  think  that  because  another  acts  and 
thinks  differently  to  myself,  he  must  needs  be 
wrong?  No  doubt  I  may  not  always  say,  "  You 
are  right"  but  I  can  at  any  rate  let  him  think  it. 

# 

Try  this  recipe  of  mine,  and  I  can  answer  for  it 
your  friendship  will  be  lasting. 

XI. 
^eneatfc  tfre  €pe  of  <!5ob,  <Sob  onlg. 

AS  you  read  these  words,  are  you  not  con- 
scious of  an  inward  feeling  of  peace  and 
quietness? 

Beneath  God's  Eye,  there  is  something  in  the 
thought,  like  a  sheltering  rock,  a  refreshing  dew, 
a  gleam  of  light. 


ihtst.  "7 

Ah  !  why  always  such  seeking  for  some  one  to 
see  me,  to  understand,  appreciate,  praise  me  ? 

The  human  eye  I  seek  is  like  the  scorching  ray 
that  destroys  all  the  delicate  colours  in  the  most 
costly  material.  Every  action  that  is  done,  only 
to  be  seen  of  others,  loses  its  freshness  in  the  sight 
of  GOD  :  like  the  flower,  that  passing  through 
many  hands,  is  at  last  hardly  presentable. 

Oh  !  my  soul,  be  as  the  desert  flower,  that 
grows,  blooms,  and  flourishes  unseen  in  obedience 
to  GOD'S  Will,  and  cares  not  whether  the  passing 
bird  perceives  it,  or  the  wind  scatters  the  petals, 
scarcely  formed. 


On  no  account  neglect  the  duty  you  owe  to 
friendship,  relatives,  society,  but  remember  each 
day  to  reserve  some  portion  of  it  for  yourself  and 
GOD  only. 

Remember  always  to  do  some  actions  that  can 
be  known  to  none  but  GOD. 

Ah  !  how  sweet  to  have  GOD  as  our  only  Wit- 
ness. 

It  i^the  highest  degree  of  holiness; 

The  most  exquisite  happiness  ; 

The  assurance  of  an  entry  into  heaven  hereafter. 


"8 

The  mother  that  reserves  all  that  is  most  costly 
for  her  child ;  the  child  that  prepares  in  secret 
some  surprise  for  its  mother,  do  not  experience  a 
joy  more  pure,  more  elevating,  than  the  servant 
of  GOD,  who  lives  always  in  GOD'S  Presence, 
Whom  alone  they  would  please ;  or  the  loving 
heart  that  enclosing  alms  to  some  destitute  family 
writes  upon  the  cover,  these  words  only,  "  In  the 
name  of  the  Good  and  Gracious  GOD." 

# 

The  following  lines  were  found  on  some  scraps 

of  paper  belonging  to  some  stranger : 

They  have  just  told  me  of  a  poor  destitute  woman, 
I  gave  them  ten  pence  for  her ;  it  was  my  duty  to 
set  an  example.  And  now,  my  GOD,  for  Thee, 
for  Thy  sake  only,  I  mean  to  send  her  five  shillings, 
which  I  shall  deduct  from  my  personal  expenses. 

To-mdrrow,  Henry  is  coming  to  see 

me,  that  poor  Henry  I  loved  so  dearly,  but  who 
has  grown  cold  towards  his  old  friend.  He  wished 
to  grieve  me,  and  little  knows  that  I  found  it  out. 
Help  me,  LORD,  to  remember  I  have  forgiven 
him,  and  help  me  to  receive  him  cordially.  * 

Thou  alone  knowest  all  I  have  suffered. 

What  a   happy  day    was  yesterday ! 


119 

happy  with  regard  to  heavenly  things,  for  alas  ! 
my  poor  heart  suffered. 

Yesterday  was  a  Festival.  The  snow  outside 
kept  every  one  at  home  by  their  own  firesides,  and 
I  was  left  lonely  .....  Ah  !  yes,  my  heart  felt 
sad,  but  my  spirit  was  peaceful  ;  I  tried  to  talk  to 
GOD,  just  as  if  I  could  really  see  Him  at  my  side, 
and  gradually  I  felt  comforted,  and  spent  my 
evening  with  a  sweet  sense  of  GOD'S  Presence. 
....  What  I  said,  what  I  wrote,  I  know  not,  but 
the  remembrance  of  yesterday  remains  to  me  as 
some  sweet  refreshing  perfume. 

$ 

Perhaps  at  the  Last  Day  all  that  will  remain 
worth  recording  of  a  life  full  of  activity  and  zeal, 
will  be  those  little  deeds  that  were  done  solely  be- 
neath the  Eye  of  GOD  ..... 

My  GOD,  teach  me  to  live  with  an  abiding  sense 
of  Thy  Presence,  labouring  for  Thee,  suffering  for 
Thee,  guided  by  Thee  ....  and  Thee  alone  I 

XII. 


PRAYERS. 

Slow,  recollected,  persevering. 


120 

Peaceful,  calm,  resigned. 
Simple,  humble,  trusting. 
Always  reverent,  as  loving  as  possible. 
Charitable.     Have  I  not  always  opportunity  to 
give  ?  to  thank  ? 

SUBMISSION. 

To  my  lot  and  to  my  duty :  they  come  from 
GOD,  are  ordained  by  GOD,  lead  me  to  GOD, 
to  neglect  them  is  to  estrange  myself  from 
Him. 

To  the  Guide  of  my  soul :  he  has  received  the 
HOLY  SPIRIT  in  order  to  show  me  the  way  ; 
he  has  GOD'S  Spirit  to  guide  him. 

To  my  Parents  :  they  have  GOD'S  authority. 

To  circumstances  :  they  are  arranged  and  sent 
by  GOD. 

LABOUR. 

Begun  cheerfully. 
Continued  perseveringly. 
Interrupted  and  resumed  patiently. 
Finished  perfectly  and  devoutly. 
Repose   and  care  for  the  body;    as  in  GOD'S 
Sight ;  under  GOD'S  protection. 


JBp  51>utp  towards  mp  Jficigbbor. 
GOOD  EXAMPLE. 

By  modest  demeanor,  and  simple  dress. 
By  a  smiling  face,  and  pleasing  manner. 
Always  striving  to  give  pleasure. 
Faithfully  fulfilling  every  duty. 
GOOD  WORDS. 

Zealous  without  affectation,  encouraging,  con- 
soling,  peaceful,  joyful,  loving.     These   are 
possible  every  day. 
GOOD  DEEDS. 

Service  rendered  by  alms  ;  by  industry  ;  by  in- 

fluence. 

Ills  remedied,  by  excusing,  justifying,  protect- 
ing, defending,  concealing  faults  and  mistakes, 
if  possible,  by  repairing  them. 
Joys  provided,  for  the  mind,  by  a  joyous  man- 
ner ;  for  the  heart,  by  loving  thanks  ;  for  the 
soul,  by  a  word  of  Heaven. 


COURAGE. 

In  trials  and  adversity,  disturbance,  sickness, 
failure,  humiliations. 


Worries  that  trouble  without  reason. 
Ill  temper  controlled,  in  order  not  to  pain  others. 
After  failures,  to  begin  again. 
In  temptations,  to  withstand  them. 
ORDER  AND  METHOD. 

In  my  occupation,  each  at  its  appointed  hour, 
In  my  recreation. 

In  all  material  things,  for  my  benefit. 
Shunning  scruples  and  constraint,  as  much  as 

caprice  and  folly. 
NOURISHMENT. 

Pious   thoughts,    read,    meditated    upon    and 

sometimes  written. 
Books,  that  elevate  and  excite  love  for  all  that 

is  good  and  lovely. 
Conversations,  that  refresh,  rejoice,  and  cheer, 

walks  that    expand    the    mind,    as    well    as 

strengthen  the  body. 

XIII. 
Cbe  poxncr  of  an  %ct  of  3tofce  taumtt^  43o&. 

HAVE  you  ever  reflected  upon  this? 
Let  us  consider  the  exact  words  that  de- 
scribe it. 
"  I  love   Thee  -with  all  my  heart,  -with  all  my 


"3 

soul,  with  all  my  strength,  because  Thou  art  so 
good,  so  infinitely  good  /" 

Try  and  repeat  these  words  slowly,  so  that  each 
may  penetrate  deep  into  your  heart. 

Do  you  not  feel  moved,  as  if  your  whole  being, 
in  these  words  went  forth  to  GOD,  offering  to  Him 
life  itself? 

Do  you  not  feel  in  making  this  Act  of  Love, 
you  give  far  more  than  if  you  gave  your  wealth, 
influence  or  time ;  nay,  rather  does  not  this  very 
act  seem  to  bring  you  riches,  strength,  oppor- 
tunities, all  that  you  possess  ? 

Picture  to  yourself,  standing  before  you  a  child 
— a  child  perhaps  who  may  have  injured  you 
deeply,  and  yet  whose  sincerity  at  this  moment 
you  cannot  doubt,  who  is  actuated  neither  by  fear 
nor  self-seeking,  but  simply  by  a  penitent  heart, 
and  who  comes  to  say  to  you  words  of  love,  such 
as  those  above,  do  you  feel  no  emotion,  no  feeling 
of  pity  ? 

I  defy  you  to  be  without  some  emotion,  not  to 
feel  your  arms  extending,  perhaps  in  spite  of  you, 
to  embrace  this  poor  child,  and  not  to  answer : 
"  I  also  love  thee." 

I  have  yet  another  test  to  put  to  you,  poor, 
desolate,  guilty,  hopeless  as  you  are,  seeing  only 


"4 

within  and  around  you,  fears,  terror,  and — ay,  let 
me  say  it — damnation. 

I  defy  you  to  kneel  and  say  these  words,  (laying 
a  greater  stress  on  .them  because  of  the  repug- 
nance you  feel;)  "  My  Cod!  I  love  Thee  with  all 
my  heart,  with  all  my  strength,  with  all  my  soul, 
above  everything,  because  Thou  art  so  ^ood,  so  in- 
finitely good /"  and  then  not  to  feel  that  JESUS  is 
moved  with  compassion,  and  not  to  hear  His 
Voice,  saying  to  you:  "  My  child,  I  love  thee 
also  !" 


O  JESUS*  how  can  we  find  words  in  which  to  ex- 
press the  tencferness  awakened  in  Thine  Heart,  by 
a  word  of  love  from  one  of  Thy  little  ones  !  That 
Heart,  so  tender,  gentle,  sensitive  and  loving  ! 

A  sentence  of  Faber's  may  sound  unnatural  to 
us,  so  little  spiritually-minded;  he  says,  "  GOD 
sometimes  draws'us  to  Him,  and  fills  us  with  love 
for  Him,  not  that  He  may  love  us,  that  He  always 
does,  but  in  order  to  make  Msfeel  how  He  loves 
us !" 

An  Act  of  Love  demands  but  a  few  moments. 
The  whole  of  the  day,  even  in  the  midst  of 


ghtat.  125 

labour,  we   can  multiply  it   infinitely,   and  what 
wonders  are  wrought  by  each  Act  ! 

JESUS  Himself  is  glorified,  and  He  sheds  abun- 
dant grace  upon  the  earth. 

Our  Guardian  Angel,  beholding  us,  listens, 
draws  nearer,  and  makes  us  feel  we  have  done 
right. 

The  Angels  above  experience  a  sudden  joy,  and 
look  upon  us  tenderly. 

Evil  spirits  feel  their  power  diminished,  and 
there  is  a  moment  of  rest  from  the  temptation 
that  surrounds  us. 

The  choir  of  saints  above  renew  their  songs  of 
praise. 

Each  soul  on  earth  feels  the  peace  Divine. 

Ah  !  which  of  us  each  day  would  not  renew 
these  Acts  of  Love  to  GOD  ! 

Ah  !  all  who  read  these  lines,  pause  for  one 
moment,  and  from  the  bottom  of  your  heart  ex- 
claim :  "My  GOD,  I  love  thee!  my  GOD,  I  love 
Thee  !'' 

XIV. 


A 


STATESMAN  retiring  from  public  life 
occupied  himself  in  his  latter  days  with 
serious  thoughts. 


126 

The  friends  -who  came  to  visit  him,  reproached 
him  with  being  melancholy.  No,  he  replied,  I  am 
only  serious.  All  around  me  is  serious,  and  I 
feel  the  need  that  heart  and  mind  should  be  in 
unison  with  my  surroundings. 

"For,"  he  added,  with  such  solemnity  as  to 
impress  all  present,  "  GOD  is  serious  as  He 
watches  us.  JESUS  is  serious  when  He  intercedes 
for  us.  The  HOLY  SPIRIT  is  serious  when  He 
guides  us.  Satan  is  serious  when  he  tempts  us. 
The  wicked  in  hell  are  serious  now,  because  they 
neglected  to  be  so  when  on  earth ;  all  is  serious  in 
that  world  whither  we  are  wending." 

Oh  !  my  friends,  believe  me,  it  is  all  true  ;  let 
us  at  least  at  times  be  serious  in  our  thoughts  and 
in  our  actions. 

XV. 
Consolation 

YOU  distress  yourself  sometimes,  poor  thing  ! 
because  amongst  those  who  surround  you, 
there  are  one  or  two  who  worry  and  annoy 
you.     They   do   not    like    you,    find   fault    with 
everything  you  do,  they  meet  you  with  a  severe 
countenance  and  austere  manner,  you  think  they 


127 

do  you  harm,  you  look  upon  them  as  obstacles  to 
your  doing  good. 

Your  life  passes  away  saddened,  and  faded,  and 
gradually  you  become  disheartened.  Courage  I 
instead  of  vexing  yourself,  thank  GOD;  these 
very  persons  are  the  means  of  preserving  you 
from  humiliating  faults,  perhaps  even  greater 
sins. 

It  is  like  the  blister  the  doctor  applies,  to  draw 
out  the  inflammation  that  would  kill. 

GOD  sees  that  too  much  joy,  too  much  happi- 
ness, procured  by  those  little  attentions  for 
which  you  are  so  eager,  would  make  you  careless 
and  slothful  in  prayer:  too  much  affection  would 
only  enervate,  and  you  would  cling  too  much  to 
earthly  things  ;  so  in  order  to  preserve  your  heart 
in  all  its  tenderness  and  simplicity,  He  plants 
there  a  few  thorns,  and  cuts  you  off  from  all  the 
pleasures  you  fancy  yours  by  right.  GOD  knows 
that  too  much  praise  would  cause  pride,  and 
make  you  less  forbearing  to  others,  and  so  He 
sends  instead  humiliations.  Let  them  be,  then, 
these  persons  who  unconsciously  are  doing  GOD'S 
work  within  you. 

If  you  cannot  love  them  from  sympathy,  love 
with  an  effort  of  the  will,  and  say  to  GOD  :  "My 


GOD,  grant  that  without  offending  Thee,  they 
may  work  my  sanctification.  I  have  need  of 
them." 

XVI. 
K&olp  Communion. 

THE  result  of  good  Communion  is,  within,  a 
fear  of  sin,  without,  a  love  for  others. 
Holy   Communion  is    a    great    aid    to 
sanctification. 

JESUS  visits  the  soul,  working  in  it,  and  filling 
it  with  His  Grace,  which  is  shed  on  all  around,  as 
the  sun  sheds  forth  its  light,  the  fire  gives  out  its 
heat. 

It  is  impossible  but  that  CHRIST,  thus  visiting 
the  soul,  should  not  leave  something  CHRIST-like 
within,  if  only  the  soul  be  disposed  to  receive  it. 
Fire,  whose  property  is  to  give  warmth,  cannot 
produce  that  effect  unless  the  body  be  placed  near 
enough  to  be  penetrated  with  the  heat. 

Does  not  this  simple  thought  explain  the  reason, 
that  there  is  often  so  little  result  from  our  fre- 
quent Communions  ? 

Do  you  long  at  each  Communion  to  receive  the 
grace  bestowed  by  CHRIST,  that  shall  little  by 
little  fit  you  for  heaven  hereafter  ? 


pttot.  129 

Will  you,  receiving  thus  the  GOD  of  Peace  within, 
have  for  those  around  you  kind  words  that  shall 
fill  them  with  calmness,  resignation,  and  peace  ? 

Will  you,  receiving  thus  the  GOD  of  Love, 
gradually  increase  in  tenderness  and  love  that  will 
urge  you  to  sacrifice  yourself  for  others,  loving 
them  as  CHRIST  would  have  loved  them  ? 

Will  you,  receiving  Him,  you  rightly  name  the 
Gracious  GOD,  become  yourself  gracious,  gracious 
to  sympathize,  gracious  to  forbear,  gracious  to 
pardon,  and  thus  in  a  small  way  resemble  the  GOD 
Who  gave  Himself  for  thee  ? 

This  should  be  your  resolve,  when  about  to 
communicate. 

Resolved  to  obey  GOD'S  Commandments  in  all 
their  extensiveness,  never  hesitating  in  a  question 
of  duty,  no  matter  how  hard  it  may  be  ;  the  duty 
of  forgiving  and  forgetting  some  injustice  or  un- 
deserved rebuke ;  accepting  cheerfully  a  position 
contrary  to  your  wishes  and  inclinations  ;  applica- 
tion to  some  labour,  distasteful,  and  seemingly  be- 
yond your  strength.  .  .  . 

If  your  duty  seems  almost  impossible  to  fulfil, 
ask  yourself,  "  Is  this  GOD'S  Will  for  me  ?"  and  if 
conscience  answers  yes,  then  reply  also,  I  will  do  it. 

All  difficulties  vanish  after  Holy  Communion. 

9 


130 

Generous;  depriving  yourself  those  days  of 
Communion,  of  some  pleasures  which  though 
harmless  in  themselves,  you  know,  only  too  well, 
enfeeble  your  devotion,  excite  your  feelings,  and 
leave  you  weaker  than  before.  Generous  means 
doing  over  and  above  what  duty  requires  of  us. 

Conscientious  and  upright;  not  seeking  to  find 
out  if  some  forbidden  thing  is  really  a  sin  or  not, 
and  whether  it  may  not  in  some  way  be  reconciled 
to  conscience. 

Oh!  how  hurtful  are  these  waverings  between 
GOD  and  the  world,  duty  and  pleasure,  obedience 
and  allurements.  Did  JESUS  CHRIST  hesitate  to 
die  for  you  ?  and  yet  you  hesitate  !  Coward  ! 

Humble  and  meek ;  treading  peacefully  the  road 
marked  out  for  you  by  Providence,  sometimes 
weeping,  often  suffering,  but  free  from  anxiety, 
awaiting  the  loving  support  that  never  fails  those 
who  trust,  and  renew  their  strength  day  by  day. 
Living  quietly,  loving  neither  the  world,  nor  its 
praise,  working  contentedly  in  that  state  of  life  to 
which  you  are  called,  doing  good,  regardless  of 
man's  knowledge  and  approval,  content  that  others 
should  be  more  honoured,  more  esteemed,  having 
only  one  ambition ;  to  love  God,  and  be  loved  by 
Him. 


If  this  be  the  disposition  of  your  soul,  then  be 
sure,  each  communion  will  be  blessed  to  you, 
make  you  more  holy,  more  like  CHRIST,  with 
more  taste  and  love  for  the  things  of  GOD,  more 
sure  of  glory  hereafter. 

XVII. 

Xfter^oip  Communion. 
SELF-SACRIFICE. 

LORD  !  take  me,  and  lead  me  whithersoever 
Thou  wiliest ! 
Is  it  Thy  Will,  that  my  life  be  spent  in 
the  midst  of  such  incessant  toil,  and  tumult,  that 
no  time  is  left  for  those  brief  moments  of  leisure, 
of  which  I  sometimes  dream  ? 

Yes  !  yes  1  I  wish  it  also  ! 

Is  it  Thy  Will,  that  lonely  and  sorrowful,  I  am 
left  on  earth,  while  those  I  loved  have  gone  to 
dwell  near  Thee  above  ? 

Yes  !  yes  !  I  wish  it  also  ! 

Is  it  Thy  Will,  that  unknown  by  all,  misunder- 
stood even  by  those  whose  affection  I  prize,  I  am 
looked  upon  as  useless,  on  account  of  my  stupid- 
ity, want  of  manner,  or  bad  health  ? 

Yes  !  yes  !  I  wish  it  also ! 


132 

Thou  art  Ruler.      Oh  my  God  !  only  be  Thyself 
the  Guide,  and  abide  with  me  forever  ! 


MY  MEMORY. 

MY  Memory  !  the  mysterious  book — reflec- 
tion of  that  of  eternity,  in  which  at  each 
moment  are  inscribed,  my  thoughts,  af- 
fections, and  desires. 

Into  Thy  Hands,  I  commend  it,  LORD,  that 
Thou  alone  mayest  write  there,  Thou  alone  efface  ! 

Leave  there,  LORD,  the  remembrance  of  my 
sins,  but  efface  forever  the  pleasures  that  led  to 
them — were  I  to  catch  but  a  glimpse  of  their  en- 
ticing sweetness,  I  might  again  desire  them. 
Leave  there  the  sweet  memories  of  childhood, 
when  I  loved  Thee,  with  such  simplicity,  and 
my  father,  my  mother,  my  family,  were  my  sole 
.affections.  Those  days  when  the  slightest  un- 
truthfulness,  or  even  the  fear  of  having  sinned, 
left  me  no  peace,  till  I  had  confessed  it  to  my 
mother.  Those  days,  when  I  always  felt  my 
Guardian  Angel  near  me,  helping  me  in  my  work, 
and  soothing  my  little  troubles  ! 

Leave  me  the  remembrance  of  my  first  sense  of 
the  Divine  absolution  when,  my  heart  overflowing 


133 

with  secret  joy,  I  cried:  I  am  forgiven,  I  am  for- 
given. 

And  then  the  recollection  of  my  first  Com- 
munion !  oh  !  recall  it  to  me,  LORD,  with  its  prep- 
aration so  fearful,  yet  so  loving ;  its  joy,  so  calm, 
so  holy,  yet  so  sweet,  that  even  now,  the  thought 
of  it  fills  mine  eyes  with  tears  ! 

Leave  me  the  remembrance  of  Thy  Benefits  ! 
each  year  of  my  life  is  crowned  with  blessings .... 
at  ten  .  .  .  .fifteen ....  eighteen ....  twenty  years 
...  .oh  !  I  can  well  recall  all  Thy  goodness  to 
me,  my  GOD  !  Yes,  receive  my  memory,  blot 
out  all  that  can  estrange  me  from  Thee,  and 
grant,  that  nothing  apart  from  Thee  may  again 
find  a  place  there  ! 


MY  MIND. 

OH !     by    what    false    lights  have    I  been 
dazzled !     They  showed  me    prayer    as 
wearisome,   religious  duties  too  absorb- 
ing— frequent  Communion  as  useless — social  duties 
as  a  heavy  bondage — devotion,  the  lot  of  weak 
minds  and  those  without  affection  ....  Oh !   I 
knew  well  how  false  it  was,  and  yet  I  let  myself  be 
half  convinced. 


'34 

When  have  I  ever  been  more  zealous  in  labour, 
than  those  days  when  I  had  fulfilled  all  my  re- 
ligious duties  ? 

When,  more  loving  and  devout,  than  on  the 
days  of  my  Communions  ? 

When  have  I  full  more  free^  more  happy,  than 
when  having  fulfill,  d  all  the  duties  of  my  social 
position  ? 

LORD!  receive  my  mind,  and  nourish  it  with 
Thy  Truth  ! 

Show  me  that  apart  from  thee,  pleasures  of  the 
senses  leave  behind  only  remorse,  disgust,  weari- 
ness, and  satiety ; 

Pleasures  of  the  heart  cause  anxiety,  bitterness, 
rendings,  and  fears ; 

Pleasures  of  the  mind  produce  a  void,  vanity, 
jealousy,  coldness,  and  humiliations  !  Teach  me 
that  all  must  pass  away  ....  that  nothing  is  true, 
nothing  is  good,  nothing  is  eternal,  but  Thou, 
Thou  only,  O  my  GOD. 

MY  WILL. 

MY  deeds  are  the  result  of  my  will,  and  it  is 
the  will  only,  that  makes  them  of  any 
value. 
Oh  !  then  to  begin  with,  I  will  learn  submission  t 


135 

What  I  wish,  may  not  always  be  good  for  me, 
what  I  am  bidden  must  be  right. 

0  JESUS  !  grant  me  the  grace  of  obedience,  and 
then  let  me  be  bidd  n  many  things :    works  of 
piety,  works  of  charity,  self-renunciation,  brilliant 
deeds,  deeds  that  are  ignored,  in  my  family  life, 
or  wherever  I  may  be,  th.re  are  numberless  calls 
for  all  of  these  ;  LORD,  behold  Thy  servant !  may 
I  be  always  ready,  when  Thou  hast  need  of  me. 

A.LL   THAT    I    HAVE. 

MY  GOD,  how  richly  hast  thou  blessed  me  ! 
Treasures  of  love,  I  offer  them  to  Thee  ! 
/  have    relations,    dear    ones,    Thou 
knowest  how  I  love  them ....  Ah,  if  it  be  Thy 
Will  to  take  them  from   this  world,  before  me, 
though  I  say  it  weeping,  still  I  say  it;  Thy  Will  be 
done  ! 

/  have  friends  ....  If  it  be  Thy  Will  they  should 
forget  me,  think  ill  of  me,  leave  me  alone,  with  that 
loneliness  of  heart,  so  bitter  and  so  keen ....  I 
yield  them  to  Thee  ! 

1  have  worldly  goods,  that  give  me  a  certain  de- 
gree of  comfort,  by  affording  me  the  means  of 
helping  others,  poorer  than  myself ....  should  it 


I36 

be  Thy  Will  to  deprive  me  of  them,  little  by  little, 
till  at  last  I  have  only  the  bare  necessaries  of  life 
left ....  I  yield  them  to  thee  ! 

I  have  limbs,  that  thou  hast  given  me.  If  it  be 
Thy  Will  that  paralysis  should  fetter  my  arms, 
my  eyes  no  longer  see  the  light,  my  tongue  be 
unable  to  articulate,  my  GOD,  I  yield  them  to 
Thee! 

In  exchange,  grant  me  Thy  Love,  Thy  Grace, 
and  then  ....  nothing  more,  only  Heaven  ! 

* 

O  JESUS,  abandoned  by  all  in  the  garden  of 
Gethsemane,  in  need  then  of  comfort  and  strength ; 

JESUS,  Thou  Who  knowest  that  at  this  moment 
there  are  some  on  earth  who  have  no  strength, 
no  comfort,  no  support,  oh  !  send  to  them  some 
angel  who  will  give  them  a  little  joy,  a  little 
peace  !  Oh  !  if  only  /  might  be  that  messenger  ! 
What  must  I  suffer,  LORD  ? 

If  an  outward  trouble,  or  inward  pain  be  need- 
ful, to  make  of  me  but  for  one  moment  a  consoling 
angel,  to  some  poor  lonely  heart,  oh  !  however 
keen  the  pain,  or  bitter  the  trouble,  I  pray  Thee, 
grant  it  to  me,  JESUS  ! 

O  JESUS,  in  search  of  lips  to  tell  the  love  Thou 


137 

bearest  for  thy  children  ;  lips  to  tell  the  poor  and 
lonely  they  are  not  despised,  the  sinful  they  are 
not  cast  away,  the  timid  they  are  not  unprotected. 
Oh,  JESUS,  grant  that  my  lips  may  speak  words 
of  strength,  love,  comfort,  and  pardon.  Let  each 
day  seem  to  me  wasted,  that  passes  without  my 
having  spoken  of  help  and  sympathy,  without 
having  made  some  one  bless  Thy  Name,  be  it  but 
a  little  child. 

O  JESUS  !  so  patient  towards  those  who  wearied 
Thee  with  their  importunity  and  ignorance  ! 
JESUS,  so  long-suffering  in  teaching,  and  awaiting 
the  hour  of  grace  !  JESUS,  grant  that  I  may  be 
patient  to  listen,  to  teach,  though  over  and  over 
again  I  may  have  to  instruct  the  same  thing. 
Grant  me  help,  that  I  may  always  show  a  smiling 
face,  even  though  the  importunity  of  some  be 
keenly  felt,  and  if  through  physical  weakness  I 
manifest  ennui  or  weariness,  grant,  O  JESUS,  that 
I  may  speedily  make  amends  with  loving  words, 
for  the  pain  I  have  caused. 

O  JESUS  !  Who  with  infinite  tact,  didst  await, 
seated  at  the  roadside,  the  opportunity  for  doing 
good,  simply  asking  a  small  service  of  the  poor 
Samaritan  woman,  Thou  wouldst  save,  and  draw 
to  Thee. 


138 

O  JESUS  !  grant  that  I  may  feel  and  under- 
stand all  the  pain,  that  timidity,  shyness,  or 
reserve,  keep  buried  within  the  recesses  of  the 
soul.  Grant  me  the  tact  and  discretion  that 
draws  near  without  paining,  that  asks  without  re- 
pulsing, without  humiliating,  and  thus  enable  me 
to  bring  peace  and  comfort  to  the  wounded 
heart. 

O  JESUS  !  seeking  some  one  as  faithful  dispenser 
of  Thy  blessings,  grant  much  to  me,  that  I  may 
have  much  to  bestow  on  others.  Grant  that  my 
hands  may  dispense  Thine  alms,  that  they  may 
be  as  Thine,  when  Thou  didst  wash  the  feet  of 
Thine  Apostles,  working  for  all,  helping  all;  let 
me  never  forget,  that  like  Thee,  I  am  placed  on 
this  earth  to  minister,  not  to  be  ministered 
unto. 

Grant  that  my  lips  may  speak  comforting  words 
and  give  forth  cheering  smiles,  that  I  may  be  as 
the  well  by  the  roadside,  where  the  weary  traveller 
stoops  to  drink,  as  the  shade  of  the  tree  whose 
branches  laden  with  fruit  are  extended  over  all 
that  pass  beneath. 

O  JESUS  !  to  Whom  all  Thy  children  are  so 
dear,  and  whatever  they  may  be  Thou  carest  for 
them,  and  rememberest  they  are  the  much  loved 


139 

children  of  GOD  !  Oh  !  grant  that  in  all  my  inter- 
course with  others,  I  may  only  see,  love,  and  care 
for  their  souls,  that  soul  for  whom,  O  GOD,  Thou 
hast  died,  who  like  myself  can  call  Thee  FATHER, 
and  with  whom,  near  Thee,  I  hope  to  dwell, 
throughout  the  ages  of  Eternity. 


\ 


Immortality 

By  Ella  WHeeler  Wilcox 

TM MORTAL  Life  is  something  to  be  earned 

By  slow  self  conquest,  comradeship  with  pain 
And  patient  seeking  after  higher  truths* 
We  cannot  follow  our  own  wayward  wills 
And  feed  our  baser  appetites  and  give 
Loose  reins  to  foolish  tempers  year  on  year, 
And  then  cry  "Lord  forgive  me,  I  believe — ! 
And  straightway  bathe  in  glory.     Men  must  learn 
God's  system  is  too  great  a  thing  for  that. 
The  spark  divine  dwells  in  each  soul,  and  we 
Can  fan  it  to  a  steady  flame  of  light 
Whose  lustre  gilds  the  pathway  to  the  tomb 
And  shines  on  through  Eternity,  or  else 
Neglect  it  till  it  simmers  down  to  death 
And  leaves  us  but  the  darkness  of  the  grave. 
Each  conquered  passion  feeds  the  living  flame; 
Each  well  borne  sorrow  is  a  step  toward  God, 
Faith  cannot  rescue  and  no  blood  redeem 
The  soul  that  will  not  reason  and  resolve. 
Lean  on  thyself,  yet  prop  thyself  with  Prayer ; 
For  there  are  spirits,  Messengers  of  Light 
Who  come  at  call  and  fortify  thy  strength. 
Make  friends  with  them  and  with  thine  inner  self* 
Cast  out  all  envy,  bitterness  and  hate 
And  keep  the  mind's  fair  tabernacle  pure. 
Shake  hands  with  pain,  give  greeting  unto  grief, 
Those  Angels  in  disguise  and  thy  glad  soul 
From  height  to  height,  from  star  to  shining  star 
Shall  clr^  •»-  Iclaim  blest  immortality. 


